Western Native Trout Award Winners

Logo of Western Native Trout Initiative with mountains and a river in the background.

Created in partnership with the Western Native Trout Initiative to celebrate the diversity and raise awareness of the importance of protecting, conserving and restoring native trout and char species in the western United States.

2025 Award Winners

  • A colorful, artistic depiction of a fish leaping out of water with a dragonfly flying above it.

    1st – Anne Kongoasa

    K-3rd Grade | Cuthhroat Trout | GA

  • Painting of several brown and yellow trout with black spots swimming among black rocks and green plants.

    1st – Liam Cho

    4th-6th Grade | Yellowstone Cutthroat | IL

  • Colorful illustration of a rainbow trout leaping out of water with a fishing line attached, set against a background of green mountains and a blue sky.

    1st – Audrey Lu

    7th-9th Grade | Arctic Char | CA

  • A person holding a large rainbow trout fish over water, with visible water ripples

    1st – Janet Li

    10th-12th Grade | Cutthroat Trout | VA

  • Watercolor painting of a fish with bright, multicolored body, yellow and orange patches, and black spots, surrounded by green aquatic plants.

    2nd - Karina Marchenko

    K-3rd Grade | Greenback Cutthroat Trout | CO

  • Watercolor painting of a spotted fish swimming in blue water with two faint light spots.

    2nd - Alexandra Saunders

    4th-6th Grade | Bonneville Cutthroat Trout | UT

  • Painting of a fish jumping out of a river, with a mountainous landscape, evergreen trees, and a setting sun in the background.

    2nd - Michelle Arustamyan

    7th-9th Grade | Golden Trout | CO

  • A person holding a freshly caught rainbow trout with a colorful landscape in the background.

    2nd - Emily Kalna

    10th-12th Grade | Golden Trout | NJ

  • Colorful watercolor painting of a rainbow trout fish swimming in a river surrounded by plants and vibrant scenery.

    3rd - Amalia Badalyn

    K-3rd Grade | Greenback Cutthroat Trout | CO

  • Painting of a fish swimming in water with a sunset sky in the background.

    3rd - Rachel Peng

    4th-6th Grade | Arctic Char | AL

  • A drawing of a freshwater stream with three fish, rocks, plants, and trees along the banks.

    3rd - Naidely Franco-Ramirez

    7th-9th Grade | Greenback Cutthroat Trout | CO

  • A person holding a large fish in a river with a person fishing in the background near trees.

    3rd - Ryan Xiong

    10th-12th Grade | Greenback Cutthroat Trout | MD

2024 Award Winners

  • A colorful, abstract painting of a chameleon focusing on its eye and vibrant skin tones.

    1st – Vivian Zhu

    K-3rd Grade

  • A colorful underwater scene featuring a person's hands holding a sprig and a rainbow-colored fish near rocks and aquatic plants.

    1st – Riann Lee

    4th-6th Grade

  • Painting of three fish and two shrimps underwater, with light beams and rocks.

    1st – Nayeon Park

    7th-9th Grade

  • Colorful painting of a fish underwater with rays of light shining from above in a realistic style.

    1st – Hannah Jung

    10th-12th Grade

  • Colorful illustration of a rainbow trout jumping out of water, with a background of blue sky and splashes of water around the fish.

    2nd - Hannah Zhang

    K-3rd Grade

  • Colorful painting of a mountain landscape with two men fishing in a river, large rocks and trees in the background, and two large trout in the foreground.

    2nd - Iris Xiong

    4th-6th Grade

  • A colorful painting of a fish swimming near the water's surface in a river, with a background of trees and mountain.

    2nd - Jayden Zhang

    7th-9th Grade

  • Painting of a rainbow trout swimming in clear river water with a rocky riverbed, a forested mountain, and a blue sky with clouds in the background.

    2nd - Daniella Wu

    10th-12th Grade

  • Colorful drawing of four different fish swimming underwater near rocks and seaweed, with a blue water background.

    3rd - Lahini Walpita

    K-3rd Grade

  • Painting of a trout fish swimming in water with rocks, green aquatic plants, and orange eggs nearby.

    3rd - Minji Kim

    4th-6th Grade

  • Colorful painting of a fish swimming underwater with a landscape of trees and hills above water, featuring a heron flying.

    3rd - Khloe Ro

    7th-9th Grade

  • A colorful painting of a girl in a scuba mask underwater smiling at a large orange and brown fish.

    3rd - Cortney Greer

    10th-12th Grade