PalmettoPride Announces Finalists for 2026 Governor’s Litter Prevention Art Contest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Columbia, SC (April 2, 2026) — PalmettoPride, South Carolina’s leading anti-litter organization, announced the finalists of the 2026 South Carolina Governor’s Litter Prevention Art Contest. Drawing thousands of entries from across the state each year, the contest remains one of PalmettoPride’s most impactful youth outreach programs.
Open to K-5 students statewide, the contest challenges young artists to use their creativity to communicate an important message: “Litter Trashes Everyone.” Through their artwork, students highlight the environmental, economic and community impacts of litter while inspiring others to take pride in keeping South Carolina beautiful.
“Because of the contest, all our students get to discuss the importance of keeping litter where it belongs. Most of the lessons focus on being part of the solution,” said Kim Daly, art teacher at Fairfield Magnet School for Math & Science. “Our mantra is, ‘If every one of us just picks up one piece of litter we find, the world would be a better place.’ The kids also see that when a friend cares about the environment, it encourages them to care more, too.”
Participating schools select one student entry to represent their campus, with submissions organized into four regions: Lowcountry, Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate. From these entries, five finalists are selected — one representing each region and one overall state winner. Each year, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette hosts the finalists at the South Carolina Statehouse, where students are recognized alongside their families, teachers and state representatives for their artwork and commitment to litter prevention.
This year’s finalists are:
- Statewide: Madelynn Pitts, fifth grade, Bell’s Crossing Elementary School, Simpsonville; teacher, Dr. Wonda Hillard
- Midlands: Rhett Branham, third grade, Fairfield Magnet School for Math & Science, Winnsboro; teacher, Kim Daly
- Pee Dee: Yara Al Aswad, fourth grade, Ten Oaks Elementary School, Myrtle Beach; teacher, Karen Godfrey
- Upstate: Lara Ballanco, fifth grade, Pelham Road Elementary School, Greenville; teacher, Nathalie Norris
- Lowcountry: Justin Kinard, fourth grade, Kelly Edwards Elementary School, Williston; teacher, Bernard Aidomokhai
“This contest goes beyond the classroom and helps spark conversations at home and in communities across South Carolina,” said PalmettoPride Executive Director Sarah Lyles.
Each finalist, along with their teacher and school, receives a monetary award, as well as a framed reprint of the student’s artwork. PalmettoPride will also transform the statewide winning design into a public art installation to be displayed in the winner’s school or community.
This year, 7,618 students at 58 schools across 27 counties participated in this year’s contest. Registration for the 2027 contest will open in October. For more information, contact education@palmettopride.org.
Bell’s Crossing Elementary School
Statewide
Kelly Edwards Elementary School
Lowcountry Region
Fairfield Magnet School
Midlands Region Finalist
Ten Oaks Elementary School
Pee Dee Region Finalist
Pelham Road Elementary School
Upstate Region Finalist
About: PalmettoPride leads statewide efforts that inspire and empower community action, build public awareness and support local solutions that reduce litter and care for South Carolina’s environment. Created as the South Carolina Governor’s Task Force on Litter by the SC General Assembly in 1997, the organization became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2001 and was renamed PalmettoPride — a public-private partnership united by a shared goal: preventing litter by shifting attitudes, habits and expectations around waste in South Carolina.
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Media Contact: Hannah Feeley, Communications Manager, mhfeeley@palmettopride.org, Office: (803) 830-4924