The 16th Annual "Adopt-A-Beach Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest" is open for entries according to the Texas Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson. All children K through 6 are eligible to enter until March 5th.

Each grade level will have 10 semi finalists for a total of 40 semi finalists. According to the press release one grand prize winner will be chosen from among the 40 finalists, and will win two round-trip coach tickets to any United Airlines destination in the 48 Continental United States, one 7-night Caribbean cruise from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines departing out of Galveston, Miami, or Ft. Lauderdale, and a class party at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels.

The 40 semi finalists will receive a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, two all-day passes to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, two tickets to the permanent exhibit hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a certificate of recognition and prizes from the Texas General Land Office and a calendar displaying the winning artwork.

Entries must incorporate the slogan, “Trashing Texas Beaches Isn’t Cool.” Artwork must be displayed on a plain sheet of white 8-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.

One entry per student is allowed, and all entries must have a completed parental release form on the back of the entry. Each contest entry must be postmarked by March 5 and submitted on an 8-by-11-inch sheet of white paper.

Winning artwork will appear together in a 2013 calendar, which will be distributed throughout the state.