Orianna Smith, a rising sophomore at Maurice J. McDonough High School, is the overall winner of the 2025 Charles County Fair catalog cover art contest. Her artwork is featured on the cover of the 2025 Charles County Fair Guide. She was chosen as this year’s winner by the Charles County Fair Board and Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). 

CCPS students can enter the contest annually. The following students were named overall winners at their grade level in the contest for artwork produced during the 2024-2025 school year. Grade levels listed represent a student’s grade and school assignment for last school year. 

• Piper Moore, kindergarten, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School. 
• Carlie Lancaster, first grade, T.C. Martin Elementary School. 
• Payton Lancaster, second grade, Martin. 
• Charlotte Broglie, third grade, Arthur Middleton Elementary School. 
• Milan Hewlett, fourth grade, Middleton. 
• Meagan Jones, fifth grade, Middleton. 
• Cameron Barber, sixth grade, Piccowaxen Middle School. 
• Ujini Joshi, seventh grade, Mattawoman Middle School. 
• Cason Specht, eighth grade, Piccowaxen. 
• Kayla Cruz-Flores, sophomore, North Point High School.
• Sophia Pierce, sophomore, McDonough. 
• Payton Atwell, senior, McDonough.

Art teachers of the honored students are Clarissa Roper of Mitchell, Alaina Galope of Martin, Rebecca Franch of Middleton, Gayle Kraus of Piccowaxen, Patrice Thompson of Mattawoman, Susan Stazetski of McDonough and Teri Alo of North Point.

The 2025 Charles County Fair is Sept. 11 to 14 at the Charles County fairgrounds in La Plata. For more information, visit https://www.charlescountyfair.com/.   

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.  CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).