A Pittsburg County student took first place in her division of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s annual trash poster contest.
Mayleigh Timmreck, a second grader at Canadian Elementary School, took the first place prize in the kindergarten through second grade division for her trash poster submission. Timmreck, in Lisa Owen’s class, won for her art, titled “‘Owl’ give a ‘hoot’ if you take the right route and don’t pollute!”
The annual contest put on by ODOT “emphasizes the importance of keeping our land clean and highlights the upcoming Route 66 100th Anniversary,” according to a press release.
Timmreck was among 14 students in Oklahoma to receive recognition for their artwork submitted to help deter littering. Her art will now be showcased in the state’s annual calendar, which promotes the need for a clean environment.
The contest opens annually to students in kindergarten through 12th grades and allows young artists to show off their talents while “conveying the importance of litter-free environments,” according to ODOT. ODOT will distribute the calendar throughout the state for the 2026 year and calendars will be available for free while supplies last.
Timmreck and the other students who won were among nearly 4,000 submissions received this year, according to ODOT. Winners receive “a variety of prizes, including monetary awards, T-shirts, certificates, poster boards and laminated copies of their artwork” and teachers of the students who won will receive “vouchers for classroom supplies and two-night vouchers to an Oklahoma State Park, courtesy of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.”
Melody Johnson, ODOT beautification coordinator, thanked Oklahoma families, teachers and communities for boosting the topic of cleanliness in the state.
“Creating art allows students to better understand the effects of litter on the environment and encourages them to inspire others,” Johnson said.
Next year’s contest will begin Dec. 1, 2025, and the submission deadline is set for Jan. 31, 2026.
The winning posters for this year are available for online viewing at oklahoma.gov/odot/tpc.