The Mineta Transportation Institute Elementary Poster Contest allows students, grades 1-6, to demonstrate their knowledge of the year’s transportation theme through an artistic, visually compelling image.

That image should encourage, inspire, and/or convey a message to others about the theme.

Stay tuned for our next contest, kicking off in Fall 2021!

2020 Theme:
 “I Stop, You Stop, We All Stop for Train Tracks”

2020 Poster Winners
1st place prize winner: Elena, 3rd grade, Los Alamitos Elementary	1st place prize winner: Nitzia, 3rd grade, Bachrodt Elementary
2nd place prize winner: Catalina, 2nd grade, Escondido Elementary	2nd place prize winner: Jazlyn, 3rd grade, Bachrodt Elementary
3rd place prize winner: Mikhail, 2nd grade, Montague Elementary	3rd place prize winner: Sophia, 3rd grade, Bachrodt Elementary

"Thank you for teaching us about safety. Now I know why the school busses stop at train tracks!" - Sophia

Prizes and Awards!

Six winners will be selected: Three from grades 1-3 and three from grades 4-6. All winning posters will be displayed at the Mineta Transportation Institute Banquet at San José State University in June. All prizes must be claimed by end of the academic school year in which the entries were made. Field trip prizes include bus costs and entry fees.*  

Ready to Participate? (Contest open August-December) 

Participants must be students enrolled in any public Santa Clara County elementary school (grades 1-6). Three winning posters from each group will be selected by a panel of impartial judges. The competition is open from August-December annually.

Group 1: Grades 1^st - 3^rd 

• Posters must be a standard poster board size 22 x 28 inches (If acquiring these posters is a financial burden, please contact MTI's Irma Garcia for assistance)
• Posters can be illustrated vertically or horizontally
• Media: paint, crayon, felt pen, markers, cut paper, and other art supplies (no printed components may be used)
• Only one entry per student
• A photo of the completed posters should be submitted using the form at the bottom of this page. Please keep all original submissions until a winner is announced at which point MTI will collect the winning posters to display 
• Winning posters will not be returned to the student

Group 2: Grades 4^th - 6^th 

• Poster dimensions 18 x 24 inches (poster setting)
• Posters can be illustrated vertically or horizontally
• Digital poster contest- participants may use PowerPoint, Paint, Spark, or another poster-making application
• Posters must be submitted in PDF format
• Only one entry per student
• Posters must be submitted using the entry form at the bottom of this page

Judging Criteria

• Poster must adhere to the annual theme
• Must show safe transit/ transportation practices
• Creativity and originality
• Catchiness of incorporating the theme as a motto, tag line, or hashtag
• Visual appeal (i.e. layout, color selection, organization)
• Spelling and message clarity
• Quick tip: for digital entries, remeber to reduce the file size for easy upload

Important Dates

• Poster submittal deadline December 1^st 2021 11:59PM

• January 4^th, 2022 winners announced and prizes coordinated with winning class

• April 30^th, 2022 all field trips and class parties must be completed 

Submit My Poster

For questions or concerns regarding this contest, please contact Irma Garcia at 408-924-7566.

*Prizes are subject to change based on county and state ordinances and recommendations regarding COVID-19.