St. Michael-Albertville's Van't Hull Wins Duck Stamp Competition

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the winners of the 2012 Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest.

More than 1,170 entries were received, and The Best of Show artwork was drawn by Keaton Van’t Hull, 17, St. Michael. Van't Hull is a senior at

The Minnesota Conservation Message Winner is Hannah Angell, age 12, Andover. Her statement, "Surrounded by nature, surrounded by opportunity," along with Keaton's Best of Show artwork, a pencil drawing of a Bufflehead, will advance to the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest to be held April 20, 2012 at Patuxent Research Refuge, Maryland.

Special Student honors went to Yasemin Yucesan, age 8, Woodbury. Her artwork will be the visual image for promoting the program for 2012. This year's recipient of the Minnesota Teacher Recognition is Michael Hartung of Park Rapids High School, Park Rapids.

The Minnesota contest was held on March 21, and 100 winners were selected. Contest judges included Jason Evans, Minnesota State Greenwing Chair, Ducks Unlimited; Dale Eggert, Chapter Development, Minnesota Waterfowl Association; Jim Leach, Regional Refuge Operations Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Judy Lieber, Artist; and Laura Shimek, Art Teacher.

Van’t Hull and other winners are invited to the Awards and Recognition Ceremony for the top 36 winners (first, second, and third place) from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 21, at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s Bloomington Visitor Center, Bloomington.

* Information submitted by the Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest