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Coast Guard Student Art Contest


Every year, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) partners with the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), and the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of American States (CIP-OAS) to celebrate talented artists throughout the Americas in the K-12 Student Art Contest. Students that enter the contest create a poster that represents an environmental theme as identified by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) World Maritime Day.

The Coast Guard commends all students who participate in the art contest. Participation is open to students K-12 throughout the Americas (North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean). Students living outside the Americas are also welcome to apply, provided they have one or more parents on active duty with the U. S. Coast Guard.

The student art contest is one of many STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) initiatives promoted by Coast Guard units and partner schools across the country through the Coast Guard Partnership in Education (PIE) Program.

In addition to the students that compete in the art contest, the Coast Guard commends all Coast Guard personnel who volunteer to support schools, teachers and students in communities across the country while increasing awareness of Coast Guard values, people, and missions.

Below, you can find the artwork of the finalists and the two grand-prize winners from previous years.

2025 Theme: “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”


Grand Prize Winners

Colorful underwater scene titled “Coral Reef” with ocean animals and a research vessel.

Adaya K. – Coral Reef

5th grade

San Jose, California, USA

Painting titled “Hands of Change” showing two hands reaching across the ocean with ships, pollution, and a healthy coast.

Anastasia R. – Hands of Change

11th grade

San Fernando, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago

Finalists, Grades K–5

Artwork titled “The Colorful Ocean” showing bright fish, coral, and a rising sun.

Isla W. – The Colorful Ocean

1st grade

Newton, Massachusetts, USA

Drawing titled “Save the Sea Turtles!” with a turtle, fish, and jellyfish in bright blue water.

Emerson W. – Save the Sea Turtles

2nd grade

Newton, Massachusetts, USA

Artwork titled “Sunset Symphony of the Sea” with dolphins leaping in front of a sunset.

Jacqueline W. – Sunset Symphony of the Sea

2nd grade

Tewlsbury, Manitoba, Canada

Drawing titled “Everything is running fine” showing a diver and busy container ships with sea life.

Kyle S. – Everything is running fine

4th grade

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Painting titled “Life Below the Surface” featuring a sea turtle swimming near the surface and plastic pollution.

Evie L. – Life Below the Surface

5th grade

Newton, Massachusetts, USA

Finalists, Grades 6–12

Drawing titled “We Need Them All” with many ocean animals like sharks, turtles, jellyfish, and dolphins.

Casey C. – We Need Them All

7th grade

Juneau, Alaska, USA

Painting titled “Silent Struggle” showing a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, helicopter, and the words Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.

Chloe L. – Silent Struggle

7th grade

Harrington Park, New Jersey, USA

Artwork titled “A vibrant and harmonious world” with colorful marine life and coastal scenes.

Jin G. – A vibrant and harmonious world

7th grade

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Artwork titled “They interact with each other” showing shipping, coral reefs, and sea life together.

Vincent C. – They interact with each other

7th grade

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Painting titled “Ocean Guardians” with a Coast Guard ship and helicopter above the ocean.

Jonathan S. – Ocean Guardians

9th grade

Union City, Indiana, USA