Contest Alerts in Raleigh, NC: Updated 2026 List for Local Winners
A practical 2026 guide separates Raleigh winners from Wake County and statewide contest results.
Raleigh has no single citywide "Contest Alerts" registry for 2026; the City publishes results through separate programs. This updated list identifies documented Raleigh winners and distinguishes them from nearby Wake County and statewide winners. Here, "contest alerts" means a practical roundup of results and future entry paths, not a named municipal service.
Published results confirm past winners, but they do not necessarily indicate that entries remain open.
Raleigh's Capture It! winners
The now-closed Capture It! contest recognized Lily Burnette and Reece Newman for *Choking the Blue*. Their multimedia artwork examines pollution's long-term effects on aquatic ecosystems.
Khloe Moye, Kaitlyn Gronotte, and Ben Borie won the video category with *How to Protect Your Watershed*, according to the [City of Raleigh's July 29 contest update](https://raleighnc.gov/stormwater/services/stormwater-outreach-and-education/stormwater-awards-and-contests). The same update names educator Alexandra van Dorsten as the inaugural Stormwater Smart Award winner. Her work includes stream clean-ups and storm-drain murals.
Unlike Capture It!, this award is specifically for educators in Raleigh or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, commonly called the ETJ.
City environmental awards
Raleigh's broader 2026 environmental-award cycle received more than 100 nominations. The City honored winners at the Earth Day Celebration at Dix Park, including Raleigh Community Kickstand, Southeast Raleigh Garden Collaborative, and Amelia Hopkins, as reported in the [City of Raleigh manager's update](https://cityofraleigh0drupal.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/drupal-prod/COR13/managers-update-2026-18.pdf). These honors should be tracked separately from contests that accept artwork, videos, or other direct entries.
A published nomination-based winner list does not mean nominations remain open.
Other Raleigh-linked winners
Lily Fang of Champion Education won the 2026 NC-02 Congressional Art Competition with *Taste of Home in Carolina*. Her work will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Enloe High School's Sarah Coltrane placed third, according to the [Office of Representative Deborah Ross](https://ross.house.gov/press-releases?id=D0A37624-4380-46E7-8988-511E09D707B3). NC State's 2026 Poetry Contest also recognized Raleigh residents. Madi Corell received an honorable mention, while Isabella Rayner became a finalist and won the Undergraduate Prize for *Buckling*, according to the [NC State Department of English results](https://english.chass.ncsu.edu/research-and-engagement/creative-writing/poetry-contest/).
Award labels matter when comparing results. A category winner, finalist, third-place finisher, and honorable mention recipient have different standings even when each has a Raleigh connection.
Wake County and statewide results
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services named Wake County students Namya Singhal and Ryan Openchowski among its Farm to School Calendar Contest winners. K–5 winners received gift cards at a Raleigh ceremony, but the contest was statewide, drawing more than 3,500 entries from 58 counties.
Apex Friendship Middle School student Carolynn Kim won the intermediate division of NCDOT's statewide Aviation Art Contest. The top three entrants in each age group advance to the national contest, making this a Triangle-area opportunity rather than a Raleigh-only award. A Raleigh ceremony, Wake County winner, or nearby school does not make a contest exclusive to Raleigh.
Check whether eligibility is based on city residence, school location, congressional district, county, or statewide participation.
How to track the next opportunity
Before acting on a contest notice, separate completed results from an active entry announcement. Capture It!, for example, has 2026 winners but is already closed. Use this quick check: If a page reports only winners, look for a separate current entry notice before sending artwork, personal information, or other materials.
- Confirm the eligible location and age or grade category.
- Record the submission deadline and required entry format.
- Distinguish wins from finalist placements and honorable mentions.
- Verify that the organizer is currently accepting entries.
- Keep the submission confirmation and a copy of the rules.