The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has announced the opening of its annual Take Care of Texas Video Contest, inviting students across the state to participate. The contest is open to public, private, and home-schooled students in grades six through twelve.
Participants are asked to create a 30-second video that demonstrates positive actions Texans can take to keep air and water clean, conserve resources, or reduce waste. Each video must include the slogan “Take Care of Texas. It’s the only one we’ve got.” Details on entry requirements are available on the video-contest requirements webpage.
Scholarships will be awarded to three high school students, ranging from $500 to $2,500. Three middle school participants will receive gift cards between $400 and $800 for camera equipment. These prizes are provided by Waste Management of Texas, Inc.
The deadline for submissions is December 5, 2025. Public voting on entries will take place from January 14 through January 24, 2026. Following this period, TCEQ staff and representatives from Waste Management of Texas will select the winners from among the finalists chosen by public vote. Winners will be announced by March 2, 2026. First place recipients will be invited to attend the annual Texas Environmental Excellence Awards banquet in June 2026.
According to TCEQ: “Take Care of Texas is a statewide campaign from TCEQ that encourages all Texans to help keep our air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste.”
Previous years’ winning videos can be viewed at TakeCareofTexas.org.
