MATTAPOISETT — Two Old Hammondtown School fifth graders have created winning reminders that staying green matters.

Paige Mailloux took first place and Willow Ruel earned second in the annual poster contest sponsored by the Mattapoisett Tree Commitee.

The competition encourages fifth graders to create posters that reflect the importance of trees in a community.​​​​ This year’s theme was “Be a Cool Community, Plant Trees.’’

Thirty-five  students participated, which is the highest number in the eight years or so that students have participated at Old Hammondtown, art teacher Greta Anderson said. 

“I’m so proud of them,’’ Anderson said.

Nancy Souza of the Tree Committee said the posters provide young people with the chance to educate “themselves and their parents and their community about the importance of trees.’’

Paige, 11, took first place with a design she created using watercolor pencils.

Her interest in art follows a family tradition, she said. She has fond memories of visiting the New Hampshire home of her grandmother, who is an artist, and spending time painting with her.

Willow, 11, used a Sharpie, crayola markers and colored pencils.

The contest encourages students to select their own mediums.

Jodi Bauer, a select board member who also sits on the Tree Committee, said the artist judges had a difficult time selecting the winners because all the entries were impressive. “The judges were blown away,’’ she said.

The posters will be displayed at the Mattapoisett Library.

The winners received gift certificates to a local pizza shop.