Congratulations to the 2025 Litter Hawk Youth Award Winners!

Thank you Pennsylvania youth who participated in the 2025 Litter Hawk Youth Award Program! The program, funded by PA Department of Environmental Protection, provides a way for students in kindergarten through grade 6 to express their concerns about litter through art, words or video. Each participant completed a project specific to their grade level.

In support of the Greatest American Cleanup, Keep America Beautiful’s national three-year campaign to motivate, educate and celebrate communities to clean up and green up ahead of the Country’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, this year’s Litter Hawk Youth Award theme is: Join the Greatest American Cleanup! Show us how you can keep your community litter free for America’s 250th birthday.

Judges were excited to see so many thoughtful submissions illustrating positive change towards reducing the amount of trash found in our parks, school grounds and along our roadways. Over 500 projects were received! First and second place in each grade level were awarded certificates. All participants will received recognition of participation with a Litter Hawk sticker.

We’re proud to announce that a ceremony recognizing students will be held on April 3, 2025 in the Main Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Shannon Reiter, Executive Director, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Ramez Ziadeh, Acting Executive Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection, and Christian Cassidy-Amstutz, Strategic Initiatives and Grants Manager, America250PA will provide remarks. Following the ceremony, participants will move from the Main Rotunda to the East Wing Rotunda – Fountain Area, for a light reception and photographs of the students with their projects. Poster-sized displays of winning entries will be on display from April 3 through April 30.

All winning students, their parents, and legislators with winning students in their district are invited to attend a ceremony honoring the Litter Hawk Youth Award winners and participants. Contact our office for more information.