PalmettoPride Announces 2025 Winners of the South Carolina Governor’s Art Contest on Litter Prevention
Columbia, SC (March 27, 2025)—PalmettoPride, South Carolina’s leading anti-litter organization, announced the finalists of the 2025 South Carolina Governor’s Art Contest on Litter Prevention. With thousands of entries every year, the Contest remains one of PalmettoPride’s most successful youth outreach programs and encourages K-5 students across the state to express their creativity while conveying the message, “Litter Trashes Everyone.”
State Rep. Mark Willis; Madelyn Pitts, Upstate Winner; Dr. Wonda Hilliard, Madelyn’s teacher; Luke Hughes, Midlands Winner; Katie Walters, Luke’s teacher; Olivia Kirby, Lowcountry Winner; Jana Ward, Olivia’s teacher, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette; Kayron Pechu, Pee Dee Winner; Malik Hayward, Kayron’s teacher; Nina Nassyrov, Statewide Winner; Cheri Camp, Nina’s teacher; and State Rep. Mark Smith
Participating schools select one entry to represent them, with submissions divided into four regions: Lowcountry, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Upstate. From these, the top five finalists emerge, representing the four regional winners and the overall state winner.
Each year, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette invites the finalists, along with their state representatives, families, and teachers, to the South Carolina Statehouse to recognize the students’ outstanding artwork. The finalists of this year’s contest are as follows:
- Statewide Winner: Nina Nassyrov, 5th Grade at Philip Simmons Middle in Berkeley County
- Teacher: Cheri Camp
- Midlands Winner: Luke Hughes, 4th Grade at Pomaria-Garmany Elementary in Newberry County
- Teacher: Katie Walters
- Pee Dee Winner: Kayron Pechu, 4th Grade at Greeleyville STEAM Academy in Williamsburg County
- Teacher: Malik Hayward
- Upstate Winner: Madelyn Pitts, 4th Grade at Bell’s Crossing Elementary in Greenville County
- Teacher: Dr. Wonda Hilliard
- Lowcountry Winner: Olivia Kirby, 4th Grade at Berkeley Elementary in Berkeley County
- Teacher: Jana Ward
“While pickup is still necessary, we know litter prevention is the key to keeping South Carolina beautiful. Prevention starts with education,” said PalmettoPride Executive Director Sarah Lyles. “This program allows educators to bring our mission directly into the classroom. We thank all the schools and teachers for encouraging students to participate in the Contest and the students for bringing awareness to the public through their artwork.”
Each winning student, their teacher, and school receive a monetary award. The schools and students receive a framed reprint of their artwork. Beginning with this year’s contest, PalmettoPride will commission an artist to transform the statewide winner’s artwork into a public art piece in the state winner’s school or community.
This year, 51 schools across 18 counties participated in the Contest. Registration for the 2026 Contest opens this October. For more information, contact education@palmettopride.org.
Philip Simmons Middle
Pomaria-Garmany Elementary
Greeleyville STEAM Academy
Bell’s Crossing Elementary
Berkeley Elementary
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Created as a legislative initiative to fight litter and beautify South Carolina, PalmettoPride inspires prevention through education, supports enforcement, connects community groups to resources, and mobilizes volunteers.