The Village of Montgomery Beautification Committee announced the winners of its 2026 Arbor Day Poster Contest during the Village Board Meeting held on May 11 at the Village Hall.
The annual contest encourages local students to express the importance of trees through artwork. This year’s theme, “Our Country. Our Trees.,” was chosen in honor of the America 250 Celebration and received more than 700 submissions from students. The committee said it was impressed by the creativity and environmental awareness shown in this year’s entries, making it difficult to select finalists and resulting in many honorable mentions. The village thanked all participants for their enthusiasm and contributions.
Winners were selected from each grade level. Caroline R. from Lakewood Creek Elementary won for kindergarten; Josie P., also from McDole Elementary, won first grade with her poster titled “United by Heart.” Gabrielle L., a second grader at Lakewood Creek Elementary, was recognized for her work titled “We Keep Trees Safe for the Community.” Third grade winner Juliana P., also from Lakewood Creek Elementary, created a poster called “Suntree.” Miranda G.H. from Krug Elementary took fourth grade honors with her entry “The End of the Path is Not the End of Nature,” while Emma H., another student at Lakewood Creek Elementary, won fifth grade with her piece entitled “Our Country Grows, So Do Our Trees.”
All winners were honored during the board meeting and received certificates as well as special prizes that included a Village of Montgomery goodie bag filled with fun items and a Dairy Queen gift card.
The Beautification Committee congratulated all winners and expressed gratitude to participants and educators who supported this year’s contest. For additional information about future contests or participation details, residents are encouraged to visit montgomeryil.org/761/Arbor-Day or contact epfaff@montgomeryil.org.
