To maintain Tree City USA status, a town must complete a certain number of projects within the community.

To reach that quota, Mattapoisett's Tree Committee participated in a state-wide poster contest for fifth graders. The theme was "Trees are terrific, from Berkshires to Bay," and Old Hammondtown School student Fiona Hoben took home the first place prize.

Hoben won a $25 gift certificate to No Kidding, and her poster will move on to Boston, where it will be judged against other winners across the Commonwealth. The contest is hosted by the The Massachusetts Urban and Community Forestry Program.

The Tree Committee worked with art teacher Greta Anderson, who was able to get 15 entries from her students.

"I'm very grateful [Anderson] did this," Tree Committee member Jodi Bauer said. "It's not part of the curriculum and it was an extra assignment for the kids."

The entries were shown to large panel of judges, all of whom are local residents with an artistic streak.

"The judges had a tough time, they had to make multiple rounds around the room," Bauer said. "But it was a great way to pull in the community."

The runner-up was Camryn Maniatis, who received a $10 gift certificate for No Kidding.