Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read and members of the Oregon Legislature honored the winners of the 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book Student Essay and Cover Photo Contests yesterday at the Oregon State Capitol.
“I’m so proud of the talented photographers and students essay winners featured in this year’s Oregon Blue Book, and it was an honor to lead celebrations for them at our State Capitol,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read. “Our Blue Book is an excellent showcase of what makes our state so special, in no small part due to the incredible creative contributions from Oregonians.”
The contest winners and Secretary Read visited the House and Senate chambers during the morning sessions, where the winners were greeted by the members and thanked for their contribution to the Oregon Blue Book.
“Thank you to my colleagues at the Oregon Legislature and the staff for greeting us and making our time at the Oregon Capitol an experience these Oregonians will never forget,” said Secretary Read.
In the House, contest winner Luna Chatila, a seventh grader from Sherwood Middle School in Sherwood, read her essay about being connected to Oregon’s places and nature and how it’s now part of who she is. Luna described how she came to Oregon during the COVID-19 pandemic from Lebanon when the country was suffering due to violence and war. Luna announced that she and her family will soon be returning to Lebanon. In the Senate, contest winners gathered in the Senate Chamber to greet and be recognized by the Senators there.
Between the events in the House and Senate, Secretary Read and the contest winners had a short Q&A, to give contest winners a chance to learn more about his role. Contest winners then sat with Secretary Read at the Oregon Blue Book – Capitol Gift Shop book signing, where they all signed Oregon Blue Books purchased that morning by gift shop patrons.
2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest winners are Matt Straite (front cover) from Keizer and Nathan Rohde (back cover) from Shady Cove. 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book Student Essay Contest winners are Alex Biegel, 7th Grade, Riverdale School in Portland; Luna Chatila, 7th Grade, Sherwood Middle School in Sherwood; Trinity Jameson, 4th Grade, Lake Oswego Learning Center; Claire Lee, 3rd Grade, Catlin Gabel, Portland; Guled Olol, 4th Grade, McKay Elementary, Beaverton; Nayarrah Paz Sosa, 8th Grade, Estacada Middle School, Estacada; Azara Willits, 8th Grade, Thurston Middle School, Springfield.
Images from yesterday’s events are available for download and use by the media here.
