AUSTIN — Teresa So, a 5th grader from Walker Station Elementary in Sugar Land, Texas, is the grand prize winner of the 2016 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush selected Teresa’s art from more than 5,000 entries submitted statewide. The annual competition encourages schoolchildren to learn more about the Texas coast and express what they’ve learned through their art. Open to grades K-6 across Texas, the contest motivates thousands of young artists each year. 

"With more than 5,000 entries statewide, the 20^th anniversary of the Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest has broken all previous records," Bush said. "This contest is a great way for young Texans to learn about the natural beauty of our precious coast and to demonstrate their creativity. Having so many young artists participate this year made the decision especially difficult, but Teresa So's submission stood out due to her attention to artistic detail and careful depiction of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of five of the world’s seven sea turtle species known to call the Texas coast home.”

Teresa So's artwork, along with 39 runners-up, will appear on the cover of the 2017 Adopt-A-Beach calendar. The artwork of all winners will be on public display in the South Central Gallery of the Texas Capitol May 24^th – 31^st for all visitors to view and appreciate. The exhibit will be sponsored by Representative Wayne Faircloth (HD 23, Galveston).

Teresa So's winning artwork earns her two round-trip coach-class tickets from United Airlines to any United destination in the 48 contiguous United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, one 7-night Caribbean cruise from Royal Caribbean International departing out of Galveston, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral or Puerto Rico and a class party at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels.

The grand prize winner's teacher, Karen Germany, also receives two round-trip coach-class tickets from United Airlines, and one 7-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

Ten winners were chosen from each of four grade-level categories (K – 2^nd, 3^rd – 4^th, 5^th and 6^th) for a total of 40 winners. All 40 winners will receive a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, a ticket to the Exhibit Hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a ticket to the Houston Zoo, two all-day passes to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, a certificate of recognition and prizes from the Texas General Land Office and a calendar displaying the winning artwork.

To learn more about the Adopt-A-Beach program, visit www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or contact the GLO at 1-877-TX COAST. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/texasadoptabeach and follow us on Twitter at @TXadoptabeach.

2016 Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest Winners

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