51ÊÓƵ

Picture Perfect: North Star senior collects Congressional Art Competition award

April 30, 2025

Chase Strohmyer’s interest in snapping sunset photos for his grandfather led to an equally bright-sky moment for him this spring.
 
U.S. Congressman Mike Flood applauded the senior’s photography talents by recognizing him in the 2025 . Strohmyer was selected as the runner-up in the 1st Congressional District for his photo entitled “Holy Bikes.” The picture will be displayed in Flood’s office in Room 343 of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
 
Strohmyer said he was honored to have his artwork travel to the nation’s capital. He was walking past a new architecture building at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last semester when he spotted several bikes glistening in the sunlight. He took out his camera, lined up the shot and walked away with an award-winning image.
 
“I saw the light was just perfect for this photo, and I thought, ‘I’ll snap the photo here,’” Strohmyer said. “It looked good at first, and then I got to it on my computer and I was just amazed at what it looked like. I’m really proud of how it turned out.”
 
Flood said Strohmyer’s black-and-white picture was eye-catching because of the interplay of light between the building and bicycles. He felt it was important to pay tribute to those photographic gifts and encourage other budding Nebraska artists.
 
“I think anytime someone in the House of Representatives recognizes the work of a student in Lincoln, Neb., or wherever it is, I think that’s special for Chase, for his family, for the school,” Flood said. “We can’t lift up talent enough. We have two million people in this state. We have to identify those folks who are excelling in their fields and make sure they know that we are aware of their talents, and that we want them to use those talents right here in the state of Nebraska.”
 
North Star Principal Megan Kroll said she was proud of Strohmyer for helping the school with his artistic abilities. Strohmyer has taken hundreds of North Star photos throughout the fall, winter and spring for the school yearbook. He has captured fellow Gators competing in sports, participating in activities and learning in classes for the publication. He won a state medal for his action photography at this spring's Class A State Journalism Championships.
 
“We’re fortunate to have Chase,” Kroll said. “He’s at every event. It doesn’t matter if it’s sports, activities, he’s everywhere taking pictures and sharing them with our building. We’re very fortunate to have him. He’s also just an amazing person, an amazing student as well, so we’re going to miss him when he graduates.”
 
Strohmyer became intrigued by photography after watching how much joy his grandpa gained from taking sunset pictures each day. He began sending his own twilight images to his grandfather, and he pursued the hobby even more by enrolling in a photography class his sophomore year. That led to a full-time passion for the rewarding activity.
 
“It just went from there, honestly,” Strohmyer said. “It’s all about the sunset photos.”
 
Strohmyer began taking sports pictures as a junior and started a Photography 3 course with North Star teacher Jason Codr last semester. He decided to challenge himself by capturing black-and-white images of street-based scenes. He developed a state-winning portfolio that included images of a person walking down an alley, shoes from underneath a stairway and a student riding a bike by an old building.
 
“When you shoot black and white, you have to be certain that the photos look nice, because you can’t rely on nice colors,” Strohmyer said.
 
Codr leads visual arts classes at North Star and has mentored Strohmyer the past three years. He said Strohmyer’s generous personality has made him an integral part of every multimedia class at school.
 
“Chase teaches people everything. I mean, he really does,” Codr said. “Chase is really good about taking students under his wing, and people ask him questions all the time. He’ll more than likely show them what he’s doing and how it’s working.
 
“He’s very much a role model for a lot of the younger students who are like, ‘Oh my gosh, look at what he’s doing!’ They’re excited to do that and he helps them. He doesn’t see it as competition, but he says, ‘Awesome!’”
 
Flood said that type of standout character can be found throughout 51ÊÓƵ. He said Strohmyer is a product of the school district’s emphasis on providing high-quality education in every building across the city.
 
“This school district produces some of the best students in the world,” Flood said. “They go on to do great things, whether it’s the CEO of a major corporation to a major cattle operation in the western part of the state. The students at 51ÊÓƵ are prepared for the future, and the more we can recognize their talents, I think the better opportunity we have for them to feel like, ‘You know what, people here in the state value my talents, and I’d like to share it with them as I go forward.’”
 
A panel of art teachers and local artists chose “Holy Bikes” for the award from dozens of submissions. Flood presented Strohmyer with a certificate of special congressional recognition and an official challenge coin of the 1st Congressional District. He also offered many words of sunshine-level encouragement to the future UNL Regents Scholar.
 
“We’re very impressed with you and we’re impressed with your high school,” Flood said. “Congratulations, and you have a lot to look forward to in life.”
 
Visit to learn more about the many ways LPS students benefit from art classes.
 
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