​The winner of the Congressional Art Competition in Michigan's Sixth District, Autumn Roth of St. Joseph, was feted Thursday during a reception in the nation's U.S. Capitol Building. 

Roth, who graduated from St. Joseph High School in Berrien County and plans to attend Hope College in Holland in the fall, won with her digital photograph titled, "Heard?" The image depicts a covered human form holding a blue and white sphere. The idea for the image came to her looking at pictures of women in Afghanistan and Iraq wearing burkas, shrouded from head to foot. The women were seen but not heard. 

Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, met with Roth and her family before the awards ceremony. 

"It’s a great achievement and I'm proud to have our office take part in the competition to allow students like Autumn to share their art," said Upton. "The arts are a vital part of the community." 

Roth, who came to Washington, D.C., with her parents and sister, said she was excited about attending the awards luncheon and being able to see her art hanging in the Capitol, where it will remain on public display for a full year. 

"This has been a thrilling experience," she said. "It was an honor to win the Congressional Art Competition for the Sixth District.” 

Upton's office collaborated with the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 2014 High School Area show for the Congressional Art Competition. It was open to all high school students living in the six counties making up the Sixth District. About 140 pieces were submitted for consideration in the Congressional Art Competition from students living in Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. 

The winners were awarded two free tickets courtesy of Southwest Airlines, sponsors and other speakers provided congratulations and praise to the artists for having the courage to share their work with hundreds of thousands of people who will view their work in the Capitol for the next year.