‘Take Care of Texas’

Now entering its 10th year, this year’s Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Take Care of Texas Art Contest theme for 2024 is all about recycling. Students are asked to illustrate how they, along with their friends and family, recycle and reuse items to reduce waste. The contest is open to public, private, or homeschooled students throughout Texas from kindergarten through fifth grade. Prizes for the winning entries in each category (K-first, grades 2-3 and grades 4-5) include laptops or iPads made possible by the contest sponsor, Texas Chemical Council.

TCEQ staff will select two finalists in each category for a total of six state- wide winning entries. The grand prize winners and runners-up will be selected by TCEQ commissioners and executive staff, as well as representatives from the Texas Chemical Council. Each grand prize winner will receive a laptop, and each runner-up will receive an iPad.

Each student must submit artwork depicting positive ways to care for the environment by recycling by March 1. Each entry must contain the slogan “Take Care of Texas.”

Entries can be submitted electronically via the Take Care of Texas website (www.takecareoftexas.org). Students, parents, or teachers can scan the physical entry or take a quality photo and upload the file. Digital entries must abide by the contest rules and must be accompanied by a digital entry form. Entries will still be accepted via mail to: Take Care of Texas/ Kids Art Contest, MC 118, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087.

For more information and official rules, visit www.takecareoftexas.org or email educate@tceq.texas.gov.

Winners will be announced in early April and celebrated online through the website and social media channels. The grand prize winners, in each category, will be invited to the annual Texas Environmental Excellence Awards banquet in May