The 2025 “Teen Takeover” finalists are: Zoe Joy, LaMoure; Josephine Legge, Spiritwood; Jocelyn Ward, White Shield; Isabella Packineau-Williams, Parshall; Michelle David, Cando; and Lydia Brase, Rugby. Their creative submissions interpreting the North Dakota-related theme of “What North Dakota Means to Me,” accompanied by short essays explaining their works, are on exhibit at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck through the end of the year.

The public is invited to an opening reception Saturday, Feb. 22, 2-3 p.m. Following a short program awarding the grand champion, the teens will be available to visit about their submissions in Lecture Room B of the Heritage Center & State Museum.

Ward’s entry is a pencil and oil pastel on paper, titled “MHA.”

“North Dakota is more than just a place to live; it’s my home and where my roots grow deep,” Ward wrote in her essay. “As part of the MHA Nation, it reminds me of the strength and history of my people — the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. The land is sacred, filled with stories of our ancestors and the traditions they passed down. It represents family, culture, and a connection to something bigger than myself. It’s where I’ve learned the importance of respecting the land and the stories that come with it. Living here inspires me to carry forward the values of strength, kindness, and pride in who I am and where I come from.”

“Seasons” is an acrylic on cardboard and glass by Lydia Brase of Rugby.

Packineau-Williams created an acrylic paint collage, titled “My Home.”

“North Dakota holds a huge significance for me — it embodies the essence of who I am and inspires our creativity,” she wrote. “North Dakota feels like a painting to me. Rich in history and meaning. Through this art project I aim to pay tribute to the ties between our past and present, the bond between our community and environment.”

The Badlands in the background portrays beauty and symbolizes endurance, while grain silos stand as testament to the dedication of farmers, and lakes and trees along with deer and wildlife serve as havens of peace, Packineau-Williams wrote of her artwork.

“The Native American signifies the five federally recognized tribes within our state, but more specifically my tribe, the Three Affiliated Tribes. It is intricately connected to the terrain of the Badlands. We derive power from our culture that still remains strong throughout the Plains,” her essay said..

In her collage, oil wells represent change, opportunities and wealth. Lake Sakakawea signifies the home of her ancestors who lived on the bottomlands before the Garrison Dam was completed in 1953.

“MHA” is a pencil and oil pastel on paper created by Jocelyn Ward of White Shield.

“The dam has brought great sadness to our tribe, while being a huge piece of our history,” Packineau-Williams wrote.

Brase’s piece is acrylic paint on cardboard and glass, called “Seasons.”

“The thing I love most about North Dakota is the four seasons,” Brase wrote. “North Dakota is a place where you can have the perfect temperature in the summer and wake up to beautiful, frosted trees in the winter. Spring is when the birds come home, such as the western meadowlark.

“Autumn is when the western meadowlark likes to take its vacation south. It stays south for about five months and then comes back in the spring through the summer to say hi again. Also in the sky are the northern lights. The northern lights can be all different colors and can be seen in any season. They dance through the sky over the grasslands. North Dakota is a great place any time of year because of its unique seasons,” she wrote.

The State Historical Society is accepting submissions for the 2026 “Teen Takeover” contest. North Dakota teens ages 13 to 18 are invited to submit an original work interpreting the theme “What will North Dakota look like 250 years in the future?” Contest entries are due by Dec. 5. The grand champion will be awarded $150, provided by the State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation.