2020 Maryland Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners Announced

Carroll County Youth Awarded Grand Prize

Standing with the winning 2020 Arbor Day poster art, from left to right: Tree-Mendous Maryland Coordinator Anne Gilbert; Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Acting State Forester Kenneth Jolly; First Lady Yumi Hogan; and Urban and Community Forestry Supervisor Marian Honeczy. Photo by Joe Andrucyk, Office of the Governor

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 poster contest is judged annually by a panel of forestry experts and special guest judge, Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan.

Lola Lugard of Sykesville, Carroll 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 Angela Webb of Easton, Talbot County. Third Place honors went to Annelie Kolbe of Hancock, Washington County. Her school will receive five trees.

“Every year I look forward to this annual tradition, which shines light on the artistic talent and environmental passion of young Marylanders across our state,” said First Lady Yumi Hogan, who is an accomplished artist and adjunct professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Winning entry by Lola Lugard of Carroll County

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… in All Four Seasons!”

The Maryland Forest Service accepted hundreds of entries for the 2020 Arbor Day Poster Contest. Posters are initially judged on a county level and the winners are submitted to the Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee to compete at the statewide level.

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