TOPEKA, KS—Twenty-four students, including three from the local area, were recognized for their photography at a Kansas Day program at the Kansas State Capitol. The winners of the Happy Birthday, Kansas! Student Photo Contest participated in a program with Governor Sam Brownback, state legislators, Jennie Chinn with the Kansas Historical Society, and Marearl Denning representing legislative spouses.

Students who placed first received iPads; students who placed second received Kindles. Denning organized the statewide contest, jointly sponsored by the Historical Society, which invited students in first through 12th grade to photograph their Kansas communities. Photographs from the 24 winners will be on display in the Kansas State Capitol Visitor Center the afternoon of January 29 through the February 5, and online at kshs.org/18622.

The following students were recognized Friday:

Asher Cook, Kansas Wildflowers, first grade, first place, Olathe

Michaela Ferguson, Cheney Lake in the Winter, first grade, second place, Cheney

Morgan Nabus, Harvest Time, second grade, first place, Junction City

Spencer Wilson, Long Dirt Road, second grade, second place, South Hutchinson

Reese Hedstrom, Football and Heroes, third grade, first place, Cheney

Kyle Miller, Discovering Kansas Fall, third grade, second place, Derby

Tara Stallbaumer, The Oregon Trail, fourth grade, first place, Rossville

Abraham Hilbert, Pool Frog, fourth grade, second place, Seneca

Logan Nabus, Conversation in the Woods, fifth grade, first place, Junction City

Johanna Walker, Tricycle, fifth grade, second place, Franklin

Jada Nabus, Making Friends Before Practice, sixth grade, first place, Junction City

Maurice Hilbert, A Walk in the Woods, sixth grade, second place, Seneca

Paige Schroeder, Evening Hoops and Dreams, seventh grade, first place, Derby

Kiara Knox, Flags and Horses, seventh grade, second place, Clyde

Katie Brady, Dreamy Day, eighth grade, first place, Wakefield

Rylee Boyd, I Walk a Lonely Road, eighth grade, second place, Berryton

Samantha Wilson, Country Speed Limit Sign, ninth grade, first place, Holton

Michaela Falley, One Room School House, ninth grade, second place, Topeka

Gracie Rolls, Evening Happiness,10th grade, first place, Columbus

Kaliana Osborne, Sun Shining Through, 10th grade, second place, Concordia

Cameron Birney, Giddyup, 11th grade, first place, Bucklin

Ashleigh Carrillo, Friday Night Victory, 11th grade, second place, Kingsdown

Sydney Myers, Connecting on a Personal Level, 12th grade, first place, Topeka

Briana Yokum, Flowers, 12th grade, second place, Humboldt

Nearly 300 entries were received for the contest this year.