May 24, 2007

Winning Photos in Michigan Week 2007 Contest on Display at Michigan Library and Historical Center

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) today announced the winners of the fifth annual Michigan Week Youth Photo Contest, coordinated by HAL, Michigan History for Kids magazine and Michigan State University Extension's 4-H Youth Development, with support from the Michigan Barn Preservation Network. 

The 12 winning photos, from all regions of the state, depict the photographers' favorite Michigan historic sites.  The photos are on display in the rotunda of the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing through May 31, and will then travel around the state as part of 4-H exhibits at selected county fairs, libraries, museums and other venues.

Sixteen photos also were selected as regional winners.  Both the statewide and the regional winners can be seen on the Michigan Week Web page at www.michigan.gov/michiganweek.

"We applaud this group of young people for taking pride in our state's heritage and helping to illustrate the unique array of intriguing historic sites Michigan has to offer," said HAL Director William Anderson.  "I encourage Michiganians of all ages to discover for themselves the many places steeped in Michigan history and the stories behind them.  The Michigan Week Web page provides a variety of resources for exploring these 'pure Michigan' sites and learning more about our storied past."

The contest, which required that the subject of the photo include a building or object at least 50 years old, is part of the annual Michigan Week celebration.  Its 165 entries came from all regions of the state and both peninsulas, with contestants ranging from ages nine to 19.

Michigan Week 2007 Youth Photo Contest statewide winners are:

• Corinne Figarra of Ypsilanti, age 10, for Depot Town (taken in Ypsilanti)
• John Figarra of Ypsilanti, age 14, for Lowden Schoolhouse (taken in Ypsilanti)
• Jake Gebauer of Gregory, age 11, for Michigan State Capitol Building (taken in Lansing)
• Kyle Helwig of Lake Leelanau, age 14, for Bufka Shed at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (taken in Maple City)
• Cody Janczewski of Rose City, age 14, for Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse (taken in Bay City)
• Kevin Langerfeld of Hubbard Lake, age 12, for Presque Isle Lighthouse (taken in Presque Isle)
• Betsy McCabe of Dearborn, age 13, for Cotswold Cottage Dove Cote at Greenfield Village (taken in Dearborn)
• Collin McCullick of Hudsonville, age 11, for Bridge on M-21 Over Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River (taken in Trout Creek)
• Erinn McCullick of Hudsonville, age 15, for D.H. Day Barn (taken in Empire)
• Cameron Swett of Morrice, age 14, for Chippewa County Courthouse (taken in Sault Ste. Marie)
• Anna Vankirk of Charlotte, age 19, for Langley Covered Bridge (taken in Centerville)
• Karsten Varecha of Ontonagon, age 9, for M-28 Train Trestle that Crosses the Presque Isle River (taken in Gogebic County)

Michigan Week 2007 Youth Photo Contest regional winners (runners-up) are:

• Haillee Becker of St. Ignace, age 11, for Gros Cap Church (taken in St. Ignace)
• Pavel Borisov of Ann Arbor, age 16, for Dixboro One-Room School (taken in Ann Arbor)
• Gabriel Bowerson of Standish, age 10, for Sage Branch Public Library (taken in Bay City)
• Ashley Byykkonen of Calumet, age 14, for Quincy Number Two Shafthouse (taken in Hancock)
• Abby Ferris of Ada, age 13, for Market Street, Mackinac Island (taken on Mackinac Island)
• Allie Freed of Suttons Bay, age 16, for Fishtown (taken in Leland)
• Robert Hayes of Dearborn, age 15, for Sacred Heart Catholic Church (taken in Dearborn)
• Alexis Hott of Wayland, age 12, for Traverse City State Mental Asylum (taken in Traverse City)
• Jessica Jaseph of Three Rivers, age 13, for Sue Silliman House (taken in Three Rivers)
• Alan Marcusen of Daggett, age 13, for Anderson Farm (taken in Daggett)
• Caitlin McCullick of Hudsonville, age 17, for Ore Furnace Through Archway (taken at Fayette Historic Townsite in Garden)
• Alexandra Saari of White Pine, age 18, for White Pine Copper Mine Smokestack (taken in White Pine)
• Tyler Shumway of Suttons Bay, age 18, for Fishtown (taken in Leland)
• Alanna Swett of Morrice, age 17, for Water Storage Tank (taken in Sault Ste. Marie)
• Erin Swett of Morrice, age 12, for Curtis Homestead Barn (taken in Kinross)
• Sarah Tessmer of White Pine, age 18, for Ball Mill from the White Pine Mine (taken in White Pine)

Communities around the state are celebrating Michigan Week with a variety of activities.  For event listings, the governor's proclamation, "how to celebrate" ideas, resources for learning about and exploring Michigan, and more, visit www.michigan.gov/michiganweek.

Michigan History for Kids is a colorful, award-winning magazine designed to make history fun for young readers. Written at a fourth-grade reading level, the topics align with those covered on the fifth-grade MEAP test. Each magazine is filled with interesting stories, activities and fun facts.  For more information, visit www.michiganhistorymagazine.com/kids.

Michigan 4-H Youth Development is part of the Children, Youth and Family Programs of Michigan State University Extension and has programs in all Michigan counties.  To learn more, visit http://web1.msue.msu.edu/msue/cyf/youth.

Michigan Week is a program of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).  Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan heritage, and fostering cultural creativity, the department includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center.  For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).