HARRISBURG, PA — More than 500 Pennsylvania students were recognized for raising awareness about litter and environmental stewardship through art, writing, and video as part of this year’s Litter Hawk Youth Award program.
What This Means for You
- Hundreds of students are promoting anti-litter efforts statewide
- Winning entries highlight environmental awareness ahead of America’s 250th
- Public exhibits will showcase student work across Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful honored students during the annual contest, which encourages youth to educate their communities about the environmental and public health impacts of litter — defined as waste that is improperly discarded in public spaces.
This year’s theme, “Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful!” ties the contest to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.
“Every student that takes part in the Litter Hawk program knows that litter is bad, and they are encouraging their friends, their parents, their neighbors, and their communities to be good stewards and keep Pennsylvania beautiful and litter free,” DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley said.
Participation and Program Overview
Officials said more than 500 entries were submitted from students across Pennsylvania, with participants contributing posters, essays, and videos focused on keeping communities clean.
The program is open to students participating individually or through schools, environmental clubs, scout groups, and other organizations.
Promotional partners for this year’s contest included the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
First Place Winners by Grade Level
State officials announced the following first-place winners:
- Prekindergarten: Alexandriah, Farrell Area Elementary, Mercer County
- Kindergarten: Calvin, Ringing Rocks Elementary, Montgomery County
- Grade 1: Carter, Jenny Lynn Preparatory, Luzerne County
- Grade 2: Henry, Norvelt Elementary, Westmoreland County
- Grade 3: Amelia, Hares Hill Elementary, Chester County
- Grade 4: Tanesha “Gia”, Queen of All Saints Academy, Lehigh County
- Grade 5 (Essay): Paula, Norwood School, Delaware County
- Grade 6 (Video): Beckett, Rylissa, Emalee, Teegan, West Greene School, Greene County
Life Skills (Poster) winners from Wyoming Area School District in Luzerne County included:
- Grade 1: Mario, Maverick, Mason, Zurella, Krispin
- Grade 2: Emma, Luci, Charlotte, Namirr
- Grade 3: Aria, Mark, Amina, Willow, Milana, Trinity
Second Place Winners by Grade Level
Second-place winners included:
- Prekindergarten: Khloe, Farrell Area Elementary, Mercer County
- Kindergarten: Ayonna, Jenny Lynn Academy, Luzerne County
- Grade 1: Isabelle, Holy Name Elementary, Cambria County
- Grade 2: Amelia, Homeschool, Washington County
- Grade 3: Anwitha, West Bradford Elementary School, Chester County
- Grade 4: Faith, Homeschool, Lancaster County
- Grade 5 (Essay): Alec, Haine Middle School, Butler County
- Grade 6 (Video): Elizabeth, Leighton, Mackinze, Savannah, Twin Valley Middle School, Berks County
Life Skills (Poster) winners from Brockway Elementary in Jefferson County included:
- Grade 1: Emilia, Ethan, Eva, TJ
- Grade 2: Lincoln
- Grade 3: Charlotte
- Grade 4: Jack, Kate
Awards and Public Display
First- and second-place winners received medals, certificates, and Litter Hawk decals.
Winning entries are on display in the East Wing Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg through April 30. Additional displays will appear throughout the year at locations including Pennsylvania Turnpike service plazas and PennDOT welcome centers.
Photos from the awards ceremony are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/144937024@N03/albums/72177720324877674.
Community Impact and Next Steps
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful officials said the program continues to highlight student engagement in environmental issues.
“Each entry told a special story and showed how much our students care about their communities and the environment,” said Shannon Reiter, executive director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Officials said the annual program will continue to encourage participation from students statewide, with future contests expected to build on this year’s focus on environmental stewardship ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
More information and winning entries are available at https://www.keeppabeautiful.org/grants-awards/awards/litter-hawk/.
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