Congressional Art Contest winner

A new high school graduate will have her photography displayed in Washington, DC for the next year.

Joan Stacey graduated from Escanaba High School last Friday.

She’s the Michigan 1st District winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition.

Congress photoHer winning entry was a nighttime photo of Escanaba’s NewPage paper mill.

“I took the photo, actually, a few years ago,” Stacey said. “I’ve had some success with it recently at Bay College. They actually purchased a print of it.”

Congressman Dan Benishek visited Joan and her parents at the high school this morning to congratulate her.

“This is a great thing that we do in the House, to have the art competition across the country,” Benishek said. “It’s a real fun project for me; we get to meet students and artists.”

Joan will go on a trip to the nation’s capitol in late June to receive an award for winning the contest.

Her photo will be on display at the U.S. Capitol building for a year.