— Two area students were honored as winners in the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s 21st annual Trash Poster Contest, according to a media release.

Wagoner second-grader Whitnie Owens took first place for the kindergarten through second-grade category for her poster entitled, “Mooove Trash Mooove your trash to the can!!!”

Mia Mayo, a fourth-grader from Stigler, took second place in the third- through fifth-grade category for her poster “JUMP into cleanin’ up OKLAHOMA!”

The media release states this year’s contest had approximately 14,000 winners. All 12 winners of the statewide contest were honored at a luncheon at the R.A. Ward Transportation Building in Oklahoma City. Also attending the luncheon were the artists’ parents and teachers, along with contest sponsors, committee and other guests.

Each state poster winner received a monetary award of $250, $150 or $100 for first, second or third place. Winners also received a mounted reprint of their poster, a laminated placemat and a T-shirt bearing the design.

Following the luncheon, the students were escorted to the State Capitol for introduction to the House of Representatives by Rep. Guy Liebmann (R-Oklahoma City), chairman, Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation, on behalf of the Oklahoma Legislature. Students also received honor citations and had an opportunity to have photos taken with their respective senators and representatives.

Approximately 45,000 copies of the 2013 Trash Poster calendar will be distributed in November to Oklahoma schools; libraries; city, county, state and federal agencies; civic organizations; businesses; and citizens. The Promotional Poster of the Year will be reprinted in full color, and 14,000 copies will be distributed statewide for display purposes.



Poster winners from each category are:

9th – 12th grade:

First – Jordan Anderson, 9th grade, Plainview

Second – Junior Ugarte, 9th grade, Hooker

Third – Caitlyn Bryant, 10th grade, Beggs

6th – 8th grade:

First – Olivia Anderson, 6th grade, Plainview

Second – Hailey Bishop, 8th grade, Calera

Third – Autumn Fieszel, 7th grade, Kingston

3rd – 5th grade:

First – Paige Mellor, 5th grade, McAlester

Second – Mia Mayo, 4th grade, Stigler

Third – Silas Gesser, 4th grade, Tulsa

K – 2nd grade:

First – Whitnie Owens, 2nd grade, Wagoner

Second – Connor Castleman, 1st grade, Idabel

Third – Austin Buchanan, Kindergarten, Harrah

        

Each sponsoring teacher for the first-, second- and third-place winning entries received a voucher for a two-day stay at an Oklahoma state park, courtesy of the Department of Tourism and Recreation Department, Division of Oklahoma State Parks. They also received cash vouchers of $100, $75 or $50, respectively, to purchase classroom art supplies.

“We had a significant number of entries to this year’s contest, which indicates just how much interest even the youngest members of our community have in providing solutions to some of our biggest looming litter problems,” said Melody Johnson, the state Transportation Department’s beautification coordinator.         

The 12 winning posters, along with dozens of other entries, are in the ODOT lobby through April 30. Winners’ posters also can be viewed on the agency’s website, www.okladot.

state.ok.us.

Click on “Highway Beautification” and then the “Poster Contest” link.

Information: (405) 521-4037 or beauty@odot.org.