Two Northern Michigan Students Named Runners-Up in Governor’s 2022 State of the State Art Contest

Governor Whitmer will deliver her fourth the State of the State address Wednesday night.

Ahead of the virtual event, students across the state were challenged to come up with a creative art piece for the 2022 State of the State program cover.

Out of 800 entries, just 5 finalists were chosen. Two of the four runners-up were from Northern Michigan.

Congratulations to Mount Pleasant sophomore Clara Bonnell and Charlevoix senior Paige Pemble.

“I just kind of wanted to create a piece that kind of like captured all the aspects of Michigan and for me it’s just a place with endless activities,” Paige said. “We’re so lucky you can walk outside and be at a beach in a couple of minutes, or in the woods, or near a river or something like that, and you can always find an activity to do.”

“It’s really, really cool that the governor actually has a video of her looking at my artwork and liking it and describing it,” Clara said, “And that was the best thing ever because what’s art if other people don’t get to see it.”

Watch the State of the State address at 7pm on Local 32 or the 9&10 Plus channel on VUit.