The Genesee Valley BOCES community is proud to celebrate the creative accomplishments of Megan Winter, Public Relations Specialist for Perry Central School District and Warsaw Central School District. Megan was recently recognized with two Grand Prize awards in the 2025 Capturing Our Rural Stories photo contest, hosted by the Rural Schools Association of New York State and sponsored by NYSIR.
Representing Perry Central School District, Megan’s entries stood out among submissions from across New York State for their emotional depth and authentic portrayal of rural school life.
Her photo titled “Igniting Curiosity in Volunteerism” earned the Grand Prize in the Community Connections category. The image captures a powerful moment of student-driven service, highlighting the meaningful role young people play in building strong, connected communities.
Her second photo, “We ‘Udderly’ Love Agriculture,” won the Grand Prize in the Agriculture category. This joyful and heartfelt image celebrates Perry’s dedication to agricultural education and its impact on student learning.
In a generous and thoughtful act, Megan has chosen to direct her winnings to support neurodiverse programming and the Perry FFA (Future Farmers of America)—a decision that reflects her deep commitment to inclusion and student opportunity.
Both photographs are being featured on the RSA Facebook page and will also be showcased this July at the RSA Summer Conference in Lake Placid, where educators and leaders from across the state will gather to share ideas and celebrate the stories that shape rural education.
Through her creative lens and heartfelt dedication, Megan continues to elevate the voices, values, and vibrant experiences of our school communities. We congratulate her on this outstanding achievement and thank her for the positive impact she makes through her work.