AUSTIN — Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is calling for entries in the 20th annual Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest. The deadline to submit artwork is Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

“Many young students across Texas have not yet had the opportunity to visit our beautiful coast,” said Commissioner Bush. “This competition encourages kids to learn about the Texas coast and then be creative in demonstrating what impacts them through their art. The coast is an important part of our shared heritage as Texans and this competition promotes a deeper appreciation for this vital resource.”

Commissioner Bush will select the grand prize winner. This year's grand prize winner will receive two round-trip coach-class tickets from United Airlines to any United destination in the 48 contiguous United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, one 7-night Caribbean cruise from Royal Caribbean International departing out of Galveston, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral or Puerto Rico and a class party at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels.

The grand prize winner's teacher will also receive two round-trip coach-class tickets from United Airlines, and one 7-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

Ten winners will be chosen from each of four grade-level categories (K – 2nd, 3rd – 4th, 5th, and 6th). One grand prize winner will be chosen from the 40 finalists. All 40 winners will receive a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, a ticket to the Exhibit Hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a ticket to the Houston Zoo, two all-day passes to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, a certificate of recognition and prizes from the Texas General Land Office and a calendar displaying the winning artwork.

Winning artwork will appear together in a 2017 calendar, which will be distributed across the state.

The Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest began in 1996 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Adopt-A-Beach Program. The annual competition encourages Texas schoolchildren to learn more about the Texas coast and express what they’ve learned through their art.

Open to students in grades K-6 across Texas, the contest motivates thousands of young artists each year. Only one entry per student is allowed, and all entries must have a completed parental release form taped to the back. Parental release forms may be printed from the Land Office website located at www.texasadoptabeach.org. Each contest entry must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

Artwork must be displayed on a plain sheet of white 8 ½-inches by 11-inch paper and can be in any medium except computer generated. Three-dimensional art or artwork displaying logos, product brands and/or store names is ineligible. Students are encouraged to color copy their artwork prior to sending it in because all artwork submitted becomes property of the Texas General Land Office and cannot be returned.

This year’s contest sponsors are Royal Caribbean International, United Airlines, Schlitterbahn Waterparks, the Texas State Aquarium, the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

For more information and contest guidelines on the “Treasures of the Texas Coast” 2016 Children’s Art Contest, please contact the General Land Office at 1-877-TXCOAST or visit our website at http://www.texasadoptabeach.org.