Litter Hawk Youth Award Program
Inspiring Young Environmental Stewards Across Pennsylvania
Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
The Litter Hawk Youth Award Program is an annual recognition initiative for Pennsylvania students in grades K–6, designed to empower young people to share their thoughts and creativity around the issue of litter. Through art, writing, and video, students express their concerns, hopes, and ideas for a cleaner, healthier environment.
Litter Hawks help others understand how litter harms our environment.
Litter Hawks inspire their communities to keep public spaces clean and to dispose of trash and recyclables responsibly.
Litter Hawks lead by example, showing that even the youngest voices can make a big difference.
Thank you for a wonderful Litter Hawk ceremony! Your team did a fantastic job and it was a day that we will always remember and cherish. We have a beautiful State, and your program is a huge driver to keeping it clean!
Litter Hawk 2026 Winners!
Join us in celebrating the 2026 Litter Hawk Youth Award Program winners. First and second place in each grade level are awarded medals and certificates and invited to attend an awards ceremony and reception on April 2, 2026 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Speakers include representatives from PA Department of Environmental Protection, America250PA, and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. All participants receive recognition of participation with a Litter Hawk sticker.
This year’s Litter Hawk Youth Award theme is: Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful! in support of the Country’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.
Check out their amazing posters, essays and videos on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube!
And the winners are…
2026 First Place Winners
- Alexandriah, Pre-Kindergarten (poster), Mercer County
- Calvin, Kindergarten (poster), Montgomery County
- Carter, Grade 1 (poster), Luzerne County
- Henry, Grade 2 (poster), Westmoreland County
- Amelia, Grade 3 (poster), Chester County
- Gia, Grade 4 (poster), Lehigh County
- Paula, Grade 5 (essay), Delaware County
- Beckett, Emalee, Rylissa, Teegan, Grade 6 (video), Greene County
- Mario, Majcrick, Mason, Zurella, Krispin (Grade 1)
Emma, Luci, Charlotte, Namien (Grade 2)
Aria, Mark, Amina, Willow, Milana, Trinity (Grade 3), Life Skills (poster), Luzerne County
2026 Second Place Winners
- Khloe, Pre-Kindergarten (poster), Mercer County
- Ayonna, Kindergarten (poster), Luzerne County
- Isabelle, Grade 1 (poster), Cambria County
- Amelia, Grade 2 (poster), Washington County
- Anwitha, Grade 3 (poster), Chester County
- Faith, Grade 4 (poster), Lancaster County
- Alec, Grade 5 (essay), Butler County
- Elizabeth, Leighton, Mackinze, Savannah, , Grade 6 (video), Berks County
- Emilia, Ethan, Eva, TJ (Grade 1)
Lincoln (Grade 2)
Charlotte (Grade 3)
Jack, Kate (Grade 3), Life Skills (poster), Jefferson County
