Hillsboro Elementary School third grader Nora Hein celebrated Kansas’ birthday last week with a win of her own.

She won second place in a “Happy Birthday, Kansas!” photography contest for first through 12th grade. She attended a Kansas birthday celebration and award ceremony last week in Topeka.

“I was proud of myself,” Nora said.

“We were so excited for her to win,” Nora’s mom Rachel Hein said. “We’re proud she likes photography.”

Nora heard about the contest through 4-H club, where she is involved with photography. Hein said that Nora takes photos throughout the year for the county fair, so they were ready to enter.

“We had to take photos anyway, so we were like might as well,” Hein said.

Nora’s prize-winning photo was one she took on her family’s farm.

“It had a horizon,” Nora said, “and the barn and silo were nice together.”

One reason Nora likes photography is the equipment she gets to use.

“I like the cameras,” Nora said. “They’re cool.”

Aside from barns and silos, Nora also likes to take photos of “pretty trees and pretty flowers.”

Hillsboro Elementary School principal Evan Yoder also was proud of Nora’s win.

“She’s very artistic, and has an eye for art,” Yoder said. “It’s always exciting to have our kids get out there and display their talents and see it shown across the state.”