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Growing Works of Art Contest for Grades K-8
Growing Works of Art is an arts and writing contest for students in grades K-8. This contest is hosted in partnership with UVM Extension and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation.
2023 Contest Theme
Branching Out!
This year’s theme celebrates the connections we share with trees by creating a work of art and written story that showcases a meaningful experience where students have grown, changed, or learned something new because of the trees in our lives. Students will write a short story (one to three paragraphs) and create art illustrating their chosen tree.
2023 Contest Description
Want to incorporate in your classroom? Check out the supporting activity guide below.
Supporting Activity Guide
Contest Entry Form
Contest entries can be submitted via mail or email. All entries must include an entry form below.
Entries are due on March 10, 2023.
Entry Form (regular PDF)
Entry Form (fillable PDF)
Email entries (link to a folder or scanned document) send to: Rebecca.roy@vermont.gov .
Mailed entries can be sent to:
Rebecca Roy
1 National Life Drive, Davis 2
Montpelier, VT 05620-3801
Contest Prizes
One winner will be selected from each grade (K-8) and receive:
Artwork and stories featured online.
A Vermont State Parks punch pass ($30 value).
Featured on WCAX’s “Across the Fence” television show (if possible in 2023).
Submission Guidelines
Students currently enrolled in grades K-8 in Vermont are eligible to enter.
One prize will be award per grade.
Only one entry per student.
Art must be original and no larger than 11 x 17 inches.
It can be created in pen, pencil, crayon, pastels, paint, cloth, collage, photography or computer art.
Entries must include the artwork and the written portion.
A completed entry form must accompany the submission.
Entry must be titled with the tree story title and signed in the lower right-hand corner.
Teachers and club or organizational leaders may submit entries in groups as long as each individual submission has the completed entry form.
Entries become the property of the Vermont Division of Forestry and will not be returned.
Entries can be submitted electronically to Rebecca.roy@vermont.gov .
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged on 50% creativity and originality, and 50% successful communication about their tree story.
Questions
Contact Rebecca Roy, Interpretive Program Manager at Rebecca.roy@vermont.gov .
2022 Growing Works of Art Winners
Jackson Partlow
Roxbury Village School
K
Taylor Tritt
Mater Christi School
8th
Celeste Hines
Mater Christi School
7th
Krish Dahal
Mater Christi School
6th
Shea Bellezza
Shelburne Community School
5th
Elsa Mueller
Benson Village School
4th
Elise Menguc
Homeschool, Orwell
3rd
Elet McCusker
Rochester School
2nd
Auden Rubin
Woodstock Elementary School
1st
Previous Arbor Day Poster Contest Finalists
Jackson Partlow
Roxbury Village School
K
Taylor Tritt
Mater Christi School
8th
Celeste Hines
Mater Christi School
7th
Krish Dahal
Mater Christi School
6th
Shea Bellezza
Shelburne Community School
5th
Elsa Mueller
Benson Village School
4th
Elise Menguc
Homeschool, Orwell
3rd
Elet McCusker
Rochester School
2nd
Auden Rubin
Woodstock Elementary School
1st
Oawen White
Reading School
K
Amara Fuchs
Sharon Academy
8
Kalib Burbank
Sharon Academy
7
Raxa Tariyal
Mater Christi School
6
Emma Haley
Middletown Springs Elementary School
5
Rowan Lawrence
Homeschool
4
Jiya Sekar
Union Elementary School
3
Chelsea Anker
Mater Christi School
2
Jasper Lawrence
Homeschool
1
Levi Woodward
Upper Valley Haven Afterschool Program
K
Lydia Beaulieu
Mater Christi School
8th
Sean Early
Mater Christi School
6th
Ziva Baker
Mater Christi School
5th
Porter McDonnell
Rochester School
4th
Rowan Lawrence
Homeschool, Tunbridge
3rd
Leo Maiello
The Mountain School at Winhall
3rd
Hale Marcotte
Fletcher Elementary School
2nd
Thea Lenihan
Rochester School
1st
Cassandra Johnson
Sharon Academy
8th
Elsa Skarsten
Sharon Elementary
6th
Katalina Corp
Homeschool
5th
Mattea Thompson
Jericho Elementary School
4
William Burkholder
Homeschool
3
Reagan Weaver
Fletcher Elementary School
2nd
Juniper Blasch
Jericho Elementary School
1st
Uma Chirkova
Homeschool
8
Oralee Barrett
Mountain River School
7
Klara Hopkins
Homeschool
6
Ella Shaw
Union Street School
5
Emily Tibbetts
Monument Elementary
4
Ziva Baker
Master Christi School
3
Francesca Nocito
Mountain River School
2
Rowan Lawrence
Homeschool
1
Isabella Gaffney
Home School
8th
Uma Chirkova
Home School
7th
Makayla Marinace
Waterville Elementary
6th
Maxwell Clark
Fletcher Elementary School
5th
Cora Chivington
Waterville Elementary
4th
Cyla Botelho
Raven’s Wood School
3rd
Riley Jones
Rochester School
2nd
Merjeme Lane-Karnas
Homeschool
1st
Theresa Steward
Rochester School
8th
Natalie Messier
Randolph Union Middle School
7th
Evan Joaquin
Killington Elementary School
6th
Emma Dana
Union Street School
5th
Ben Nowicki
The Mountain School at Winhall
4th
Ryan E. Ostrom
Weathersfield Elementary School
3rd
Virginia Mongeur
Rochester Elementary School
2nd
Ziva Baker
Westford Elementary School
1st
Kyla Garcia McShane
Grade 7
School of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales
Orin Mahikoa
Waits River Valley School
Grade 8
Ciana Berry
Homeschool
Grade 6
Laila Buskey
Union Street School
Grade 5
Emma Haag
Fairfield Center School
Grade 4
Brendan Barbour
Reading Elementary School
Grade 3
Maggie Klingensmith
Rochester Elementary School
Grade 2
Agatha Hopkins
Homeschool
Grade 1
Hannah Schwarz
Thetford Academy
Grade 7
Gabriel Schatz
Home School
Grade 6
Andrew Gubbins
The Pomfret School
Grade 5
Payton Kingsbury
Union Street School
Grade 4
Helen Culpo
Castleton Elementary School
Grade 3
Isaiah Dowland
Newport City Elementary School
Grade 2
Lekha Kaplan
Fayston Elementary School
Grade 1