Maryland Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners Announced

First Lady Yumi Hogan Participates as Special Judge; Top Entries’ Schools Receive Free Tree Plantings

Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan with Arbor Day Poster Contest judges

Fifth-grade students who submitted Arbor Day posters to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources had their work judged today by a panel of forestry experts and a special guest judge, Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan, who is an accomplished artist and adjunct professor at Maryland Institute College of Art.

The posters were created using varied artistic techniques, including colored pencils, crayons, markers and paint, all illustrating this year’s contest theme, “Trees are Terrific…and Make Communities Healthy.”

Original artwork focused on trees cleaning the air, creating shade and generally contributing to healthy outdoor living.

“I’m greatly impressed by the display of talent from these Maryland fifth-graders,” First Lady Yumi Hogan said. “This Arbor Day Poster Contest is a great way to celebrate the value of forests and trees through art, which allows students to express how trees affect them on a personal level.”

The first-place winner is Annah Landry from Carroll County. Annah’s school will receive a prize of 15 trees. The second-place winner is Garrett Schlag from Talbot County. Garrett’s school will receive 10 trees for planting. The third-place winner is Addison Souza from Queen Anne’s County. Addison’s school will receive five trees.

“It is wonderful to see the creativity and passion of our fifth-grade students come to life through this poster contest,” Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “Their demonstrated connection to the environment and our natural resources is as strong and sustainable as our forests and trees.”

The Maryland Forest Service accepted hundreds of entries for the 2018 Arbor Day Poster Contest. Previously selected winners from each participating county were then forwarded for judging by the volunteer Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee.

The Arbor Day Poster Contest is hosted annually by the department’s Tree-Mendous Maryland Program. All winning poster entries will be posted online.