The 2015 Texas State Fish Art contest is underway and the deadline for submissions is March 31.
The contest is open to public, private and homeschooled students in all grades from kindergarten through senior in high school.
Students must draw or paint any recognized state fish and write an essay about it. Complete contest details and entry forms are available at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishart.
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic provides funds for first-, second- and third-place finishers in each of the four grade-level divisions.
First place in grades 10-12 is $1,000, $750 for second and $500 for third. Prizes for K-9 levels are $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third.
Student art then is featured on Toyota Texas Bass Classic printed tickets, which will take place on Lake Fork in May 2015.
The TTBC also provides a travel allowance for Texas first-place winners to attend the national awards ceremony on Aug. 21-22 in Hot Springs, Ark.
The Texas State-Fish Art Contest is part of Wildlife Forever’s State-Fish Art Contest.
Educators who wish to have their students enter the contest can download the free “State Fish Art Contest Lesson Plan” at www.statefishart.com. The curriculum includes species identification profiling each fish, a glossary and worksheets.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. (Logo provided by the TPWD, no copyright infringement inferred)