2019 Maryland Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners Announced

Garrett County Youth Awarded Grand Prize

Standing with the first place entry, from left to right: Acting Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Maryland State Forester Donald VanHassent, Urban and Community Forestry Supervisor Marian Honeczy, Tree-Mendous Maryland Coordinator Anne Gilbert, and Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan.

The judging is complete for the annual fifth-grade Arbor Day poster contest sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Three schools in Maryland that are home to the top winners will benefit with tree plantings this spring. The contest is judged annually by a panel of forestry experts and special guest judge, Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan.

Lydia Secrist of Accident, Garrett County was awarded First Place, and her school will receive 15 trees for planting.

Second Place, with a prize of 10 trees, was awarded to three students from Mechanicsville, St. Mary’s County — Jakiara Baker, Erica Daymude and Autumn Edwards. Third Place honors went to Hailey Ciccarelli and Molly Richards of Eldersburg, Carroll County. Their school will receive five trees.

“I am thrilled to take part in this annual tradition, which gives a spotlight to both the artistic talent and passion for the environment shared by our young people,” said First Lady Yumi Hogan, who is an accomplished artist and adjunct professor at the 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 Forests are Too!”

The Maryland Forest Service accepted hundreds of entries for the 2019 Arbor Day Poster Contest. Previously selected winners from each participating county were then forwarded for judging by staff and the volunteer Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee.

The Arbor Day poster contest is hosted by the department’s Tree-Mendous Maryland Program. All winning poster entries are posted online.