Pablo Picasso said, “Drawing at its best is not what your eyes see but what our mind understands.”

Over the past few months, hundreds of elementary and middle Maryland schoolchildren have used their own creative drawings to show their understanding of finance and economics in MCEE’s Annual Poster Contest. And on March 27, 2025, the contest winners were honored at a special ceremony in Annapolis hosted by Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.

Comptroller Lierman greeted school contest winners and their families from around the state in the lobby of the Louis L. Goldstein Treasury Building. Each of the 20 winning posters was on display—and will remain available for public viewing through April. 

In her remarks to the students, the Comptroller noted, “Financial education is such an important part of any real education. Learning from the earliest age what it means to just think of the concepts of money and saving is such an important part of building a successful life. These are important concepts for all of us to understand... We are so proud of the work that all of you students have done. Congratulations on your incredibly thoughtful and creative posters. It's so impressive.”

The Comptroller also offered words to the winners’ parents: “You are empowering your kids to succeed by exposing them to this education at the earliest age.”

The student artwork on display shows the winner’s knowledge of a wide range of personal finance economic concepts, including savings, investing, opportunity costs, goods and services, taxes, philanthropy, scarcity, production, and income.

The winning posters are on display through April at the Goldstein Treasury Building, 80 Calvert Street in Annapolis. To see photos from the reception, click here.

Click here to see a list of all the 2025 Poster Contest winners.