The winning poster by Leonardo Perez-Alfaro of Freetown Elementary School, Anne Arundel County.

Chloe Aurelio's poster entry earned honorable mention. She is a student at Princess Anne Elementary School.

ANNAPOLIS — Although not a winner, a Somerset County student’s art was considered a runner-up in the Department of Natural Resources 2016 Maryland Arbor Day poster contest. Princess Anne Elementary School student Chloe Aurelio was among the 12 recognized among the more than 500 entries submitted.

The statewide winners were:

1st Place: Leonardo Perez-Alfaro of Freetown Elementary in Anne Arundel County;

2nd Place: Amora Altmon of St. John the Evangelist in Prince George’s County; and

3rd Place, Jothika Saravanarajan of Gunpowder Elementary in Baltimore County

The other county runners-up were: Carroll County, MacKenzic Bennett of Charles Carroll Elementary; Garrett County, Gracie Owens of Broad Ford Elementary; Harford County, Ariana Shannon of Magnolia Elementary; Howard County, Suler Lu of Manor Woods Elementary; Kent County, Joseph Shaw of Galena Elementary; Queen Anne’s County, Mairin Hussey of Matapeake Elementary; Talbot County, Alondra Moreno-Santana of Chapel District Elementary; and Washington County, Kelton Bullock of Smithsburg Elementary.

The annual poster contest, open to fifth grade students across the state, was sponsored by the Maryland Forest Service in partnership with the Maryland Forest Conservancy District Boards, the Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Council, and the National Arbor Day Foundation.

“The talent and creativity demonstrated by these young minds is extraordinary,” Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “I want to thank all of the artists who helped share the important role trees play in our cities and communities, such as providing shade, filtering runoff and beautifying our neighborhoods. Congratulations to all the winners!”