The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently unveiled the winning student entries of its 2026 Trash Poster Contest, which is being rebranded as the “Keep Our Land Grand Art Contest” going forward.
[Above image by Oklahoma DOT]
“This program empowers students to use creativity to be part of the solution to litter,” said Rhonda Fair, Oklahoma DOT’s director of community engagement, in a statement.
“The transition to the Keep Our Land Grand Art Contest reflects that vision, giving students a bigger platform to share their creativity and inspire all Oklahomans to keep our state clean and beautiful,” she said.
This year’s winning artwork transforms everyday environmental challenges into eye-catching visual stories, with designs travelling far beyond the classroom, appearing in schools, state agencies and communities to encourage responsible waste disposal and recycling.
Nearly 2,200 students from almost 200 schools entered the contest this year, the agency said; representing 67 counties across the state.
Oklahoma DOT said 15 students across four grade divisions – Kindergarten–2nd, 3rd–5th, 6th–8th and 9th-12th – took home top honors in the 2026 contest, using color and imagination to spotlight the importance of litter-free highways and communities.
Winners earned cash prizes, including $300 for first place and the Promotional Poster of the Year. Additional awards recognized second and third place and Postcard of the Year; a new feature of this annual event, the agency said.
The Oklahoma DOT said the student winners were honored during an awards ceremony on April 15 and at an event held at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Their winning designs will take center stage in a 2027 calendar, set to be released this December and shared across Oklahoma and beyond, the agency added.
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