New York Recycles! Calendar Contest
Rules for the 2025 Contest
The NYS Association of Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) sponsors the New York Recycles! calendar artwork contest. The contest was previously sponsored by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
This contest helps New York to achieve our goal of higher excellence in waste reduction, recycling, reuse, composting, buying recycled products and mindfulness of packaging. This achievement is through the eyes of young students as they create visual artwork and is then displayed on our annual calendar.
The New York State winners receive the honor of having their artwork featured in the annual New York Recycles! calendar. In addition, winners receive a framed copy of their winning poster, and an invitation to receive and speak about their poster at our Annual Conference & Trade Show, held in November.
We hope your student, school district, or organization will participate in this worthwhile event and we look forward to working with you! Please read the poster requirements and judging criteria carefully. Only posters that meet the poster requirements and judging criteria will be considered.
Eligibility
All students in kindergarten through 12th grade in New York State public and private schools, youth organizations or home schooled are welcome to participate. If a student's school or classroom is not participating, a student may still submit an individual entry.
2025 Themes
Participants should use our theme description webpage to help guide their posters.
- Small Actions, Big Impact: Leading in Sustainability
Students are encouraged to share their views on this theme. For more information and ideas for your poster, check out our theme description webpage. If you need help brainstorming, this is a great resource!
Artwork Requirements
Entry Due Date: May 19, 2025
Posters must be received no later than May 19, 2025. Please note that all artwork submitted becomes the property of NYSAR3, is retained and may be reproduced and/or displayed throughout NYS.
Calendar content:
- All artwork should be reflective of the contest themes listed above.
- Artwork created by students must be their own original artwork. Copyrighted characters (such as Superman) or copyrighted clip art will not be accepted.
- Artwork must be clearly legible.
Materials:
- Any variety of media may be used (watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, chalk, markers, acrylic paint, etc.). Computer generated graphics are not permitted. Bright colors are best!
- Students are encouraged to incorporate recycled or recyclable materials into their creations.
- Note: If students are incorporating materials into their artwork, depth is restricted to half an inch.
Size & Layout:
- Minimum: 8½" x 11"
- Maximum: 18" x 24"
- Landscape Layout
Artwork Submission:
Each entry must have the Release Form (PDF) included with artwork submission. Any entries not accompanied by a completed Release Form will not be eligible for further judging. All entries and Release Forms must be received by May 19, 2025.
Electronic Submission Instructions:
All artwork must be submitted electronically along with completed Release Forms to NYRecyclesCalendar@gmail.com; please note in the subject line "New York Recycles Calendar Contest."
Please label the artwork file with the students name and grade. Ex. “Kristin Welch Grade 10.jpeg”
A high-quality digital JPEG file format is preferred, but high quality PNG and PDF format will also be accepted. Resolution should be 300 dpi. Please hold on to your original poster until June 30th in case your poster is selected, and we find we need you to re-submit a higher-quality version. If you have any questions about suitable formats, please contact us at NYRecyclesCalendar@gmail.com.
Judging Criteria
- The artwork meets the requirements section listed above.
- The message is clearly conveyed by any text and artwork.
- The artwork shows creativity, originality and artistic quality.
- The artwork shows visual clarity and can be easily read.
- Preference will be given to artwork that follows this year's theme.
- The Release Form is completed and included with electronic submissions.
Judging Procedure
There is no limit to the number of entries received from each school or youth organization. However, only one entry from each student can be accepted for the contest.
For state judging, the artwork will likely be grouped in one of the following five categories:
- Kindergarten through 3rd Grade;
- 4th through 6th Grade;
- 7th through 9th Grade;
- 10th through 12th Grade; and
- Special Education
Awards will be based on the number of submissions received in each category. Each grade
category will be judged based on the artwork requirements section and judging criteria section, both listed above.
Awards:
Winners in each grade category will receive a framed copy of their artwork and an invitation to receive their framed artwork at our Annual Conference & Trade Show. Selected winners will be featured in our annual New York Recycles! calendar and may be displayed across NYS.
Winning students and up to two family members are invited to the NYSAR3 Annual Conference and Trade Show in Cooperstown, NY and given a chance to present their artwork and speak about what it means to them. Winning artwork will be displayed during the Annual Awards Luncheon.
Winning posters will be featured on the NYSAR3 homepage throughout the year.
Please Remember:
- Entries must meet the poster requirements specified above and must have the Release Form (PDF)(19 KB) included with submission.
- All artwork submitted becomes the property of the NYSAR3 and may be reproduced.
Important Dates For The Contest Are
No later than May 19, 2025
- Posters must be received by email for judging.
May 20 - June 2, 2025
- NYSAR3 conducts judging.
No later than June 9, 2025
- NYSAR3 notifies winners through their school or youth organization, and gives further instruction as to student recognition.
June 30, 2025
- Hold on to the original poster in case your poster is selected and we find we need you to re-submit a higher-quality version.
If you have any questions on this poster contest please email NYRecyclesCalendar@gmail.com
Past Winners
2025 Calendar Cover
The winners for the 2025 Calendar are:
Grades K-3
Emily Rosenblat - Glenmont Elementary School, Glenmont, NY
Niko Kita - Glenmont Elementary School, Glenmont, NY
Adaline Scion - Fayetteville Elementary School, Fayetteville NY
Grades 4-5
Taige Dreher-Jacobowitz - Lenape Elementary School, New Paltz, NY
Katniss Maxene A. Hernandez - PS/IS 102, Queens, NY
Grady Hulbert - Lenape Elementary School, New Paltz, NY
Carmella Odell - Lenape Elementary School, New Paltz, NY
Ida Beckman - Lenape Elementary School, New Paltz, NY
Grades 6-9
Helena Gelewski - Roxboro Road Middle School, North Syracuse, NY
Cortland Bing - Eagle Hill Middle School, Manlius, NY
Nathan Gelewski - North Syracuse Junior High School, North Syracuse, NY
Grades 10-12
Sophia Spindler - Victor Senior High School, Victor, NY
Soraya Hammer - Victor Senior High School, Victor, NY
Honorable Mentions
Michelle Feng - PS/IS 102, Queens, NY
Madelyn Mergl - Lenape Elementary School, New Paltz, NY
Sofia Ferreira - PS/IS 102, Queens, NY
Khalisi Stuart - Eagle Hill Middle School, Manlius, NY
2024 Calendar Cover
The winners for the 2024 Calendar are:
Grades K-3
Adarsh Rao - Success Academy Hell’s Kitchen, New York, NY
Emily Rosenblat - Glenmont Elementary School, Glenmont, NY
Derek Pankratz - Oquenock Elementary School, West Islip, NY
Grades 4-6
Shruthi Rao - Success Academy Hell’s Kitchen, New York, NY
Paityn Walburn - Broadway Elementary School, Elmira, NY
Savannah Werkheiser - Broadway Elementary School, Elmira, NY
Grades 7-9
Dhruthi Rao - Success Academy Midtown West Middle School, New York, NY
Belinda Chen - Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, NY
Meghan Farrell - Auburn Junior High School, Auburn, NY
Grades 10-12
Wyatt Samuels - Victor Senior High School, Victor, NY
Jaycee Birkemeier - Victor Senior High School, Victor, NY
Gabriella West - Victor High School, Victor, NY
Lucas Soto - Leonardo Da Vinci High School, Buffalo, NY
Honorable Mentions
Braelyn Barr - Oquenock Elementary School, West Islip, NY
Melanie Peña - Lawrence Middle School, Lawrence, NY
Dylan Delia - Glenmont Elementary School, Glenmont, NY
Michelle Lin - Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, NY
2023 Calendar Cover
The 2023 winners are:
Grades K-3
Derek Pankratz, Oquenock Elementary School
Easton Fenster, Love of Learning Montessori
Iris Hefferman, Arongen Elementary School
Braelyn Barr, Oquenock Elementary School
Grades 4-6
Ella Fores, Ichabod Crane Central School
Tessa Cherry-Woode, All Saints Catholic Academy
Samantha Jimenez, Woodhull Intermediate
Francesca D'Eloia, Woodhull Intermediate
Grades 10-12
Kathryn Arbegast, Rush Henrietta SHS
Emma Werkmeister, Victor High School
Allison Lettman, Victor High School
Andy Mugisha, Union Springs Academy
Honorable Mentions
Luna Pankratz, Oquenock Elementary School
Simone Bazile, Woodhull Intermediate
Ericka Bauer, Union Springs Academy
Katelyn Merle, Fairport High School
Annick Igihozo, Union Springs Academy
