Davis photo wins Montana PTSA Reflections contest

Lincoln has many outstanding artists and a vibrant art community. Taking her place among this talented group is 13-year-old Miyah Davis, winner of the Montana PTSA "Reflections" fine arts competition in photography with her photo, "My Dad, a hero among us."

The winning photograph depicted Miyah's father, Jim Davis, building a fire to heat their home on a freezing January day.

"I love my Dad," said Miyah with tears in her eyes. "He brings so much joy into our family."

Miyah's photograph recently went to Washington D.C. by the Montana "Reflections" contest officials to be judged against other state winners. Her Art teacher, April Erickson of Lincoln school was notified two weeks ago that Miyah had won a National Excellence Award for her entry accompanied by a $200 scholarship prize.

Miyah was competing against 500 K-12 school students in the fine arts photography competition and was the only middle school student to win one of the thirteen National Excellence Awards.

"This national award is quite an honor for our school. In the past years we have had a few state Reflections winners but this is the first time a Lincoln student has been recognized on the national stage," said Erickson.

A touring exhibition of the national winners will begin to circulate around the nation in June beginning in Tennessee and ending in Washington D.C.

The Davis family of four girls and their Mom, Rikki, used to wait for Jim to get home on Friday nights after working out of town all week. But this year he's home every night, bringing emotional warmth to his family along with fire building duties.

"He teaches us to hunt and fish, and he even sings when he's puttering around," added Miyah. "He's the best guy I've ever known!"