The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on May 1 the winners of its annual Earth Month poster contest, which invited students in grades 4 through 12 to submit artwork exploring Florida’s environment.
The event aimed to encourage students to engage with environmental issues and highlight the importance of understanding and protecting natural resources. This year’s theme, “See the Seafloor: Discover Florida Beneath the Waves,” focused on the Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative, a project using advanced technology like sonar and LiDAR to map coastal seafloors for better conservation planning.
A finalist from each grade category—grades 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12—was selected from each of DEP’s six district offices. The finalists’ posters were reviewed by staff in Tallahassee before one statewide winner was chosen per category. Alexis A. Lambert, Secretary at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, said, “The creativity and thoughtfulness shown by these students reflect a strong connection to Florida’s environment. Their artwork captures the importance of understanding and protecting our natural resources. Congratulations to this year’s winners and thank you to all who participated!”
Statewide winners included Shakhina (Grade 5) from Bay Lake Elementary School for “Life Beneath the Waves,” Jacqueline (Grade 8) from Orlando Science Middle School for “Mapping Our Underwater Utopia,” and Ewanteke (Grade 12) from Ahfachkee School for “See the Sea.”
According to the official website, the department supports efforts to build resilient coasts through restoration initiatives and maintains state parks that offer recreational opportunities across more than 175 sites throughout Florida. The agency also provides services such as environmental permitting and waste management regulation while safeguarding air, water, and land resources according to its official website. These programs serve all regions with comprehensive protection measures.
While Earth Day is observed annually on April 22, officials say that work continues year-round at DEP as it seeks new ways for residents to help protect local ecosystems.
