Thank you to the following Annual Trash Contest Sponsors:

• Oklahoma Department Of Transportation
• Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department – State Parks
• Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
  
• Cherokee Nation
• Oklahoma’s Credit Union
• OG&E
• OMES – Web Modernization
• Keep Oklahoma Beautiful
• Ardmore Beautification Council
• Oklahoma City Beautiful
• Oklahoma Rural Water Association
• Solid Waste Institute Of Northeast Oklahoma
• State Department Of Education
• Department Of Public Safety / Oklahoma Highway Patrol
• Oklahoma Highway Safety Office

State winners and teachers are honored at a mid-April Awards Event at the ODOT Building in Oklahoma City. The winning students are also introduced to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate at the State Capitol that same day. All state winners and their teachers receive proper notification before the awards event.

Here’s a chance to show artistic, imaginative, and creative talent with an ORIGINAL AND POSITIVE poster/slogan design about solutions for Oklahoma’s litter problems. Win CASH and help Oklahoma “KEEP OUR LAND GRAND!”

1. The message must be positive and offer a solution to Oklahoma’s litter problem. There is no additional theme this year
2. Poster size should be no larger than 12" x 18"
3. All artwork and slogans must be the student’s ORIGINAL work. Pictures or photocopies of posters will not be accepted
4. The FULLY COMPLETED ENTRY FORM should be attached to the back of the poster in the upper right corner
5. Spelling, grammar, poster message, and the ability to digitize are all factors in the judges' decisions
   1. Consider using easy-to-read lettering, high contrast, and bright colors on paper or posterboard in the preferred sizes of 11" x 17" or 12" x 18"

• Glue, glitter, or any attachments
• Student’s name, signature, or year on front of poster
• Syndicated, copyrighted, clipart, or Canva images or characters
• Name brands, company names or company logos
• AI, computer-generated art
• Profanity
• Inappropriate or explicit content

Complete the entire entry form, which can be downloaded below herewith (and may be photocopied). All poster entries must be submitted by the contest deadline, February 13, 2026, to your local Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) District Office or ODOT Central Office. Click the "Submission Instructions & Entry" button below for more details.

All students in Oklahoma's public, private, parochial, charter, tribal schools, known home schools, and correctional center facilities in grades K - 2, 3 - 5, 6 - 8, 9 - 12 may participate.

The contest information is first distributed to principals and superintendents in Oklahoma’s public, private, parochial, charter, tribal schools, known home schools, and correctional center facilities. Any Oklahoma school student from Kindergarten through 12th grade can enter this contest. Contest Calendars are then distributed to Oklahoma federal, state, city, and county agencies, as well as libraries, municipalities, businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals statewide. A limited number of TPC Calendars are available for free to the public within the Continental United States only. 

Local County Prizes: County judging is completed during February. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place county winners will receive a certificate, and these posters will be submitted for state judging. Some local sponsors may also present other prizes, but those vary by county.

State Prizes: State judging is completed in early March. In mid-April, the 14 state winners are announced and honored at an Awards Event, and each will receive a substantial cash award for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each grade division, for the “Promotional Poster of the Year”, and for the Entry Form Poster. State winners will also receive a certificate and a t-shirt bearing their poster design. Teachers of the 14 state winners may receive vouchers (depending on availability) for a one-night stay at an Oklahoma State Park and contest vouchers to purchase classroom school art supplies. In addition, winning students and teachers will receive contest/sponsor promotional items at the April Awards Event.

• Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA)
• Cherokee Nation (CN)
• OG&E
• Oklahoma’s Credit Union (OKCU)
• Office of Management & Enterprise Services (OMES)
• Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
• Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department – State Parks (OTRD-SP)
• Keep Oklahoma Beautiful (KOB)
• Ardmore Beautification Council (ABC)
• Oklahoma City Beautiful (OKCB)
• Solid Waste Institute of Northeast Oklahoma (SWINO)
• Oklahoma State Department of Education (SDE)
• Oklahoma Department of Public Safety/Oklahoma Highway Patrol (DPS/OHP)
• Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO)