Essay State Winners 2024

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

  • Colorful painting of a fish with yellow and purple markings swimming in water among rocks and green plants.

    Polina Grechko

    Spotted Bass | K-3rd Grade

  • Watercolor painting of an underwater scene with a large fish reading a book titled 'E-store' surrounded by smaller fish and salamanders. There are rocks, plants, and pink water lilies in the background.

    Arielle Ratner

    Catfish | 4th-6th Grade

  • A colorful underwater scene with a pufferfish releasing bubbles, a black fish, seaweed, coral, shells, and starfish on the ocean floor.

    Amira Ashurova

    Pufferfish | 7th-9th Grade

  • A colorful painting of a rainbow trout fish lying on rocks with water flowing around it.

    Jooa Lim

    Greenback Cutthroat Trout | 10th-12th Grade

Connecticut

  • Empty white background with no objects or features.

  • Hand-drawn illustration of underwater scene with a large trout fish swimming among green aquatic plants, smaller fish, and a blue water background.

    Aadhya Prem Sagar

    Rainbow Trout | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful painting of various marine animals including sharks, a pufferfish, a manta ray, and smaller fish swimming in blue water.

    Jiayue Zhao

    White Shark | 7th-9th Grade

DC

  • A painting of a fish underwater, with green aquatic plants on the left and a wooden or rocky surface on the right.

    Mykah Rivers

    Nothern Snakehead | K-3rd Grade

  • A drawing of a crocodile made with collage and pencil on paper, with detailed head, body, and tail.

    Faris Nunn

    Longnose Gar | 4th-6th Grade

Deleware

  • Watercolor painting of a fish with a yellow body, pink cheeks, red fins, and a red stripe along its side, lying on a bed of black and brown rocks.

    Golden Trout | K-3rd Grade

    Taimen | K-3rd Grade

Florida - Freshwater

  • Colored drawing of five fish swimming among seaweed, with a small crab and seashells on the ocean floor, signed by Anika.

    Anika Goyal

    Bluegill | K-3rd Grade

  • Painting of a largemouth bass jumping out of water with trees in the background.

    Divya Patel

    Largemouth Bass | 4th-6th Grade

  • Decorative fish sculpture made of painted wood or ceramic, featuring detailed fins, a spotted pattern, and a red eye, positioned against a plain white background.

    Georgia Hunnewell

    Striped Bass | 7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful illustration of a fish with a lure in its mouth, resting on grass underwater. The fish has green, yellow, and black markings, with detailed fins and scales.

    Charlie Sasso

    Largemouth Bass | 10th-12th Grade

Florida - Saltwater

  • Colorful drawing of an underwater scene with various fish, including a large pink fish in the center, a smaller yellow and black fish, and other smaller fish among green seaweed and coral. Sunlight rays shine from above.

    Yimo Wu

    Queen Snapper | K-3rd Grade

  • Illustration of a large fish swimming underwater with a turtle and smaller fish around it, near the ocean floor with grass and rocks.

    Sebastian Romo

    Redfish | 4th-6th Grade

  • A painting of a fish swimming among reeds in a body of water.

    Emma Nemes

    Snook | 7th-9th Grade

  • Painting of a fish underwater with rocks, plants, and sunlight rays.

    Jessica Neef

    Black Grouper | 10th-12th Grade

Georgia

  • Painting of a bear catching fish in a river with rocks and forest background.

    Dara Du

    Largemouth Bass | K-3rd Grade

  • A painting of a fish jumping out of a body of water with trees and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Yinuo Xu

    Hickory Shad | 4th-6th Grade

  • A colorful drawing of a large fish jumping out of the water with a splash, set against a background with a sky and land.

    Steven Ju

    Largemouth Bass | 7th-9th Grade

  • A painted illustration of a fish swimming underwater over rocks, with a blue background and sunlight rays filtering down.

    Raelyn Scott

    Largemouth Bass | 10th-12th Grade

Hawaii

  • A colorful drawing of a large fish with orange, black, and white markings swimming in an underwater scene with coral and two smaller fish.

    Sun Butts

    Reef Triggerfish | K-3rd Grade

Idaho

  • Colorful drawing of a red and black spotted fish with large eyes and fins, near a green and brown underwater plant or rock, against a blue background.

    Daniel Liang

    Miniatus | K-3rd Grade

  • Drawing of a colorful fish swimming in a blue ocean with green and purple seaweed.

    Helen Zhang

    Angelfish | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a lionfish swimming in coral reef.

    Yutong Liu

    Lionfish | 7th-9th Grade

Illionois

  • Colorful painting of a chameleon on purple coral with vibrant blue, orange, and green hues in an underwater scene.

    Celina Hu

    Mandarin Fish | K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful drawing of a person holding a large rainbow trout fish with a fishing net in the foreground and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Noelle Cho

    Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful painting of two angelfish swimming underwater, surrounded by small blue fish and green seaweed.

    Paige Lim

    Reef Triggerfish | 7th-9th Grade

  • A painting of a large marlin jumping out of the ocean with a fishing hook in its mouth, surrounded by a blue sky with clouds.

    Gavin Wang

    Sailfish | 10th-12th Grade

Indiana

  • Painting of a fish with a greenish-yellow body and black spots, swimming against a dark background.

    Lilly Rowe

    Brown Trout | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful painting of a fish with yellow, blue, black, and orange patterns set against a blue background.

    Julianne Rowe

    Mandarin Fish | 4th-6th Grade

  • Painting of a cartoon-style fish with a big open mouth on an underwater rocky ocean floor, surrounded by seaweed and rocks.

    Eliana Spradlin

    Catfish | 7th-9th Grade

  • A fish jumping out of water with splashes around it.

    Caroline Rowe

    Chinook Salmon | 10th-12th Grade

Iowa

  • Colorful drawing of a fish in an underwater scene with yellow rocks, green seaweed, and purple coral against a blue water background.

    Khathy Odell

    Clownfish | K-3rd Grade

  • Child's drawing of two colorful fish swimming underwater with coral at the bottom.

    Abbigail Graham

    Copperband Butterfly Fish | 4th-6th Grade

  • Hand-drawn illustration of a colorful fish with purple, yellow, and orange stripes swimming in water with dark and light clouds in the background.

    Eleanor McMurphy

    Copperband Butterly Fish | 7th-9th Grade

  • Black and white illustration of a fish with detailed scales, fins, and a large eye, swimming against a dark background.

    Elle Carlson

    Atlantic Tarpon | 10th-12th Grade

Kansas

  • A colorful drawing of a clownfish with orange, white, and black stripes, partially hidden among lush green seaweed or aquatic plants.

    Riley Cramer

    Clownfish | K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful drawing of a fish with a striped body and big eyes, swimming in blue water with green seaweed.

    Owen Morris

    Butterfly Fish | 4th-6th Grade

  • A yellow pufferfish swimming underwater against a blue background.

    Adalie Alley

    Spotted Pufferfish | 7th-9th Grade

  • Illustration of a beaded spear with a fish design, surrounded by radiating lines creating a dynamic background.

    Oriana Cardenas-Eppens

    Wahoo | 10th-12th Grade

Kentucky

  • A child's drawing of a clownfish resting on a pink sea anemone in an underwater scene with yellow, green, and purple fish, brown seaweed, and a blue background.

    Amelia Nalley

    Clownfish | K-3rd Grade

  • Hand-drawn illustration of a fish underwater near logs and debris, with a background of distant hills.

    Daniel Fields

    Largemouth Bass | 4th-6th Grade

  • An empty, blank white space with no objects or details.

  • A colorful illustration of a leafy seadragon swimming among green seaweed with a blue gradient background.

    Elliana Aoki

    Leafy Sea Dragon | 10th-12th Grade

Louisiana

  • Colorful painting of two striped fish swimming near red, yellow, and purple coral on an underwater scene.

    Daniel He

    Royal Angelfish | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful painting of a tuna fish swimming in the ocean with bright blue background and sun rays.

    Antian Alice He

    Tuna | 4th-6th Grade

  • Drawing of a largemouth bass fish underwater near a sandy lake or pond bottom, with green aquatic plants in the background.

    Chelsi Newcomb

    Bass | 7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful illustration of a chameleon with vibrant blue, green, yellow, and orange patterns, climbing on a branch against a background of gray and light yellow hues.

    Andrew Fitzmorris

    Mandarin Fish | 10th-12th Grade

Maine

  • Empty white space with no visible objects or scenery.

  • A close-up of a beige-colored bunny inside a glass dome on a table with small decorative items

  • Colorful abstract drawing featuring a star shape with green, brown, white, and black hues, set against a dark background.

    Yinghemei Wang

    White Shark | 7th-9th Grade

Maryland

  • Colorful painting of a tropical fish with pink, blue, yellow, and black stripes and fins against an abstract aquatic blue and green background.

    Sirina Liao

    Tropical Reef Fish | K-3rd Grade

  • Drawing of a large whale under the ocean surface with smaller fish swimming nearby, waves above.

    Jeongwon (Emily) Kim

    Ray | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colored pencil drawing of a person holding a rainbow trout fish with colorful spots, near a pond with rocks and aquatic plants.

    Jonathan Zhong Shan

    Brown Trout | 7th-9th Grade

  • A mural of a red fish swimming in blue water with underwater plants at the bottom.

    Zien Cheng

    Gila Trout | 10th-12th Grade

Massachusetts

  • Colorful drawing of a fish with rainbow-colored scales and a vibrant background of greenery and water plants.

    Evelyn Zhao

    Arowana | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a fish with orange, black, and gray patterns swimming underwater surrounded by green plants and blue water.

    Sylvia Lin

    Tiger Oscar | 4th-6th Grade

  • A colored drawing of a fish on a rock with greenish and blue background.

    Elijah Wu

    Bass | 7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful painting of a lionfish swimming in a coral reef.

    Tianrui Yang

    Lionfish | 10th-12th Grade

Michigan

  • A colorful painting of a marlin fish leaping out of the ocean with a background of sea and sky.

    Yiling Lao

    Marlin | K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful painting of a large rainbow trout jumping out of a river with trees and a light blue sky in the background.

    Cody Lu

    Rainbow Trout | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful painting of a large fish leaping out of the water with mountains and trees in the background, water splashing around.

    Amanda Liang

    Rainbow Trout | 7th-9th Grade

  • A detailed pencil sketch of several sharks swimming in water.

    Kevin Chen

    Manta Ray | 10th-12th Grade

Minnesota

  • Colorful painting of a fish jumping out of water, with vibrant greens, blues, oranges, and yellows.

    Isabel Kim

    Trout | K-3rd Grade

  • Drawing of a fish swimming in water with rocks at the bottom, blue water, and a water surface in the background.

    Viviana Schleisman

    Rainbow Trout | 4th-6th Grade

  • A colorful painting of a fish swimming in a grassy underwater scene with a cloudy sky above.

    Claire Schellhorn

    Claire Schellhorn

  • Watercolor painting of three fish swimming amid green aquatic plants.

    Lydia Holmgren

    Sunfish | 10th-12th Grade

Mississippi

  • Colorful children's drawing of a big fish with red and white scales in the water, a smiling smiling sun shining in the sky, a smiling cloud, a small boat with a sail, and green grass at the bottom.

    Brooke Tao

    Red Snapper | K-3rd Grade

Missouri

  • Colorful drawing of a large lionfish swimming near a coral reef with clownfish, green seaweed, and purple coral under the ocean water.

    Becky Han

    Lionfish | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a lionfish swimming near coral and several smaller striped fish in the ocean.

    Hannah Huang

    Lionfish | 4th-6th Grade

  • A colorful painting of a large fish, possibly a trout, with its mouth open on a riverbank. A man wearing a blue shirt and hat stands nearby holding a fishing rod, with mountains and blue sky in the background.

    Cecilia Holmstrom

    Trout | 7th-9th Grade

  • A painting of a marlin fish in the ocean, with water, rocks, and sparse aquatic plants on the seabed.

    Elizabeth Butler

    Paddlefish | 10th-12th Grade

Montana

  • A colorful children's drawing of a crocodile with a fishing hook in its mouth, surrounded by green trees and plants, with small fish in the water.

    Colton Gates

    Pike | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a fish swimming among rocks and water with a blue sky background.

    William McLean

    Golden Trout | 4th-6th Grade

Nebraska

  • Colorful drawing of a fish swimming underwater, near seaweed, a rock, and a wooden post, with bubbles and a purple worm.

    Gustyn Johnson

    K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a fish with detailed scales, set against aquatic plants and a blue background.

    Willow Frink

    4th-6th Grade

  • An illustration of a fish with an open mouth, positioned underwater, facing upwards as if calling out. Fish eggs are above its mouth. A smaller blue fish and other aquatic plants and objects are also present in the background.

    Cadence Paulson

    7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a fish swimming in blue water, with a lure in its mouth.

    Alissa Lytle

    10th-12th Grade

New Hampshire

  • A colorful drawing of a large fish with an open mouth in a body of water, surrounded by rocks, a tree trunk, and floating lily pads.

    Aarohi Vora

    Largemouth Bass | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful painting of a person holding a rainbow trout fish over a river, with green hills and mountains in the background.

    Gracelynn Mehta

    Arctic Grayling | 4th-6th Grade

  • A detailed black and white illustration of a large fish swimming underwater, with smaller fish, rocks, and aquatic plants in the background.

    Alan Zou

    Rayfinned Fish | 7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful illustration of two fish with one facing forward and the other lying on its side, surrounded by abstract black and white leaves and branches.

    Isabella Jin

    Tiger Oscar | 10th-12th Grade

New Jersey

  • A swimmer in black gear and goggles underwater, observing a large tuna fish with a blue and green body, surrounded by colorful coral and seaweed.

    Minwook Kim

    Tuna | K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful painting of a fish surrounded by coral and oceanic scenery.

    Sandy Yeo

    Oscar | 4th-6th Grade

  • Painting of two bright red fish swimming in a lush, green underwater environment with tall aquatic plants.

    Sarah Chun

    Garibaldi | 7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful painting of a fish resting on rocks underwater, with small fish swimming in the background.

    Annie Yu

    Brook Darter | 10th-12th Grade

New York

  • Colorful drawing of a large fish jumping out of the water near a boat at sunset. The fish has a spotted body and a pink tongue, with a small feather floating above it.

    Yani Ding

    Brook Trout | K-3rd Grade

  • A painting of a shark with its mouth wide open, showing sharp teeth, emerging from the ocean with water splashing around it against a blue sky.

    Abigail Chen

    White Shark | 4th-6th Grade

  • A painting of a large fish underwater, surrounded by smaller fish.

    Kevin Yan

    Bluefin Tuna | 7th-9th Grade

  • A person holding a caught fish, with a fishing lure in its mouth, above a body of water.

    Jenny Xu

    Striped Bass | 10th-12th Grade

North Carolina

  • Colorful drawing of a green and yellow fish with blue markings on its face, swimming among green aquatic plants in a blue water background.

    Aaron Chen

    Grouper | K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful collage of two stylized fish with overlapping shapes and patterns, surrounded by tall green and pink aquatic plants, set against a blue and white abstract background.

    Grayson Kaplan

    Channel Bass| 4th-6th Grade

  • A colorful painting of a lionfish swimming among seaweed in the ocean.

    Kaelyn Lee

    Lionfish | 7th-9th Grade

  • A detailed grayscale drawing of a hammerhead shark and a smaller fish swimming in the ocean.

    Reagan Eshleman

    Hammerhead Shark | 10th-12th Grade

North Dakota

  • Empty white page with no visible objects or content.

  • Watercolor painting of a colorful fish with orange, yellow, blue, and black spots, swimming near rocks and a plant in a watery environment.

    Jalen Biby

    Steelhead Trout | 4th-6th Grade

Ohio

  • Watercolor painting of four colorful fish swimming in a river at sunset, surrounded by trees and rocks.

    Ellie Fei

    Trout | K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful hand-drawn depiction of a fish with various patterns and colors, including pink, yellow, green, and black spots, on a white background.

    Karsin Siens

    Trout | 4th-6th Grade

  • Drawing of a fish swimming in blue water.

    KJoonyoung Park

    Bigeye Tuna | 7th-9th Grade

Oklahoma

  • Crayon drawing of a pink blobfish lying on a gray rock in the water with a yellow sun, a cloud, and a small black bush in the background. The word "Blobfish" is written above in red.

    Alice Qiao

    Blobfish | K-3rd Grade

  • Empty white background

  • A colorful painting of a red-handed fish with a blue background and green algae or plant at the bottom, labeled 'Red Handfish'.

    April Qiao

    Red Handfish | 7th-9th Grade

Oregon

  • Painting of two large fish in a mountain lake with colorful rocks in the foreground, green trees, and snowy peaks in the background.

    Shreya Sriram

    Salmon | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful painting of a lionfish swimming in an underwater scene with green seaweed, rocks, and smaller fish.

    Eric Chen

    Spotfin Lionfish | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful rainbow trout jumping out of water with ocean and sky in the background

    Sophia Wang

    Rainbow Trout | 7th-9th Grade

  • Painting of a marlin jumping out of the ocean with a fishing boat in the background under a cloudy sky.

    Tanav Moolky

    Shark | 10th-12th Grade

Pennsylvania

  • Colorful watercolor painting of a rainbow trout with a pink belly and yellow-green spots, lying on green grass near a flow of blue water and a small brown fish in the distance.

    Olivia Ji

    Rainbow Trout | K-3rd Grade

  • Painting of two pink fish swimming in dark water with bubbles and heart shapes.

    Anna Yan

    Red Snapper | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a man holding a large fish on a boat in the water.

    Lynsey Zhao

    Milkfish | 7th-9th Grade

  • Black and white sketch of a large fish leaping out of the water with mountains in the background and splashing waves in the foreground.

    Rayne Fang

    Golden Trout | 10th-12th Grade

South Carolina

  • Empty white background with no objects or details.

  • A black and white dog lying on a bed with a blanket

  • A detailed drawing of a fish with intricate scales, fins, and facial features, surrounded by aquatic plants.

    Katherine Crowell

    Red Drum | 7th-9th Grade

South Dakota

  • Colorful drawing of two fish swimming underwater among seaweed, with bubbles and a blue background.

    Hayden Deuter

    Bluegill | K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful drawing of a largemouth bass fish jumping out of a lake with mountains, pine trees, and insects in the background at sunset.

    Josephine Thiesse

    Bass | 4th-6th Grade

  • A colorful drawing of a large rainbow trout jumping out of a stream with trees, rocks, and a waterfall in the background. The sun is shining in the sky, and smaller fish and fishing gear are visible at the stream's bottom.

    Jesse Schoon

    Rainbow Trout | 7th-9th Grade

Tennessee

  • A detailed watercolor painting of a lionfish against a blue background, showing its striped body, elongated fins with spots, and spiny fins.

    Gareth Chee

    Lionfish | K-3rd Grade

  • Painting of a colorful fish with a yellow, black, green, purple, and white pattern, swimming near rocks underwater.

    Lixin Dong

    Reef Triggerfish | 4th-6th Grade

  • A marlin jumping out of the water with storm clouds in the background.

    Lydia Xing

    White Marlin | 7th-9th Grade

  • Painting of a cartoon-style shark emerging from the water against a deep blue background.

    Cindy Zhao

    Zebra Shark | 10th-12th Grade

Texas

  • Colorful drawing of two fish with red fins swimming among green plants and large rocks on a blue background.

    Jessica Ding

    Red Shiner | K-3rd Grade

  • A realistic watercolor painting of a rainbow trout being caught with a fishing rod. The fish is held above water with a person's hand visible, wearing a blue sleeve. The background shows a river or stream with green and brown tones.

    Luke Zhang

    Rainbow Trout | 4th-6th Grade

  • Painting of a colorful fish swimming underwater with corals and bubbles around.

    Caroline Sullivan

    Red Snapper | 7th-9th Grade

  • A person holding a large fish with a colorful, mottled pattern, partially submerged in water.

    Mia Macias

    Black Crappie | 10th-12th Grade

Vermont

  • A painted illustration of a fish with green and yellow spots, shown underwater near a grassy bottom. The fish is biting a red and white fishing lure with a hook.

    Raine Chaleff

    K-3rd Grade

  • Hand-drawn picture of a fish on a wooden cutting board with a knife

    Delia Clogston

    4th-6th Grade

  • Watercolor painting of a fish swimming in a stream with rocks and grass at the bottom.

    Shea Bellezza

    7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a large fish jumping out of the water with mountains, trees, and a setting sun in the background.

    Brayden Carton

    10th-12th Grade

Virginia

  • Colored pencil drawing of two large fish swimming among aquatic plants with green lily pads and small fish in the background.

    Andrew Yang

    Perch | K-3rd Grade

  • A painting of a scuba diver swimming near a large great white shark in the ocean, with smaller fish surrounding them.

    Michael Deng

    Shark | 4th-6th Grade

  • A painting of a hand releasing a small fish into a body of water, with a larger fish swimming beneath and greenery on the shoreline in the background.

    Eirena Liu

    Tarpon | 7th-9th Grade

  • A surreal painting depicts a large fish emerging from the water with its mouth wide open, and a small colorful bird perched inside the fish's mouth holding a fishing line with a tiny fish caught on it. The background shows a sky with pastel clouds, trees on the horizon, and rushing water in the foreground.

    Cindy Ye

    Largemouth Bass | 10th-12th Grade

Washington

  • A colorful, abstract painting of a fish head with bright green, yellow, red, black, and blue hues. The large eye is prominent, and the details are rendered with bold brushstrokes.

    Vivian Zhu

    Greenback Cutthroat Trout | K-3rd Grade

  • Painting of a large shark swimming in the ocean with smaller fish around it

    Harper Baik

    White Shark | 4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful painting of a fish with bright orange fins, spotted body, and a hook in its mouth against a blurred green background.

    Sophia Qu

    Brook Trout | 7th-9th Grade

  • Painting of a large fish, likely a salmon, swimming underwater among rocks and water plants.

    Cailyn Choi

    Lamprey | 10th-12th Grade

West Virginia

  • Empty white background with no visible objects or details.

  • Blank white background with no objects or details

  • A drawing of a fish being caught on a fishing line, lying on rocks and surrounded by green plants, with a sunbeam shining from the upper left corner.

    Grace Lu

    Catfish | 7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a fish surrounded by lush plants and trees, with abstract patterns and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Joey McCall

    Brook Trout | 10th-12th Grade

Wisconsin

  • Child's drawing of an underwater scene with a large blue shark, various colorful fish, a sea turtle, seaweed, shells, and an inflatable ring. The shark is lying on a yellow float with a pink umbrella and a purple ball, drinking from a cup, with other sea creatures surrounding it.

    Nakshatra Prabhu

    Shark | K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful drawing of a fish underwater with plants, rocks, and bubbles.

    Marley Sacotte

    Largemouth Bass | 4th-6th Grade

  • A detailed pencil sketch of a largemouth bass swimming in water.

    Molly Schroeder

    Largemouth Bass | 7th-9th Grade

Wyoming

  • Empty white space with no visible objects or scenery.

  • Empty white space with no objects or scenery.

  • Colorful drawing of a fish with bright red, green, blue, and yellow patterns, with black accents, on a textured beige background.

    Deanise Sloan

    Mandarin Fish | 7th-9th Grade

  • Painting of a landscape with mountains, trees, and a lake, featuring a fish swimming in the water in the foreground.

    Owen Tanner

    Kokanee Salmon | 10th-12th Grade