A John Small Elementary School fifth-grader made Beaufort County proud as she won second place in the statewide 2015 America Recycles Day Art Contest, sponsored by the Recycle Guys and Carton Council.

Lukah Prevatt, 10, submitted her recycling-related artwork with the rest of the fourth- and fifth-graders at John Small — a colorful drawing of the earth in pencil and marker, with aliens on top.

The aliens represented items such as cereal and milk, and the cola soda alien was shown declaring, “We’re out of this world!”

Prevatt said she was inspired by one of the artwork examples shown to her art class by teacher Lisa Moore. The example featured Neil Armstrong saying, “Recycling is out of this world.”

The students were not allowed to copy the examples shown, so Prevatt took ideas from that example and made it her own, she said.

Moore said this was the first year she submitted artwork to this particular art contest, and she was able to make the experience a lesson about recycling for the students, as well.

She said her classes discussed items that can be recycled and exactly how those recycling bins at their homes work.

“I thought, you know, this will be a nice opportunity to expose the kids to recycling,” Moore said.

She said she submitted 60 pieces of art to the contest — 30 from fourth grade and 30 from fifth grade — but students from all over the state in grades kindergarten to eighth grade were eligible to participate. The hundreds of submissions were judged based on creativity, design, slogan and relation to recycling.

Because Prevatt was one of two runners-up, she will receive a $50 gift card. She said she was happy to find out she came in second place, but despite her talent, art has not become a strong passion for her just yet.

“I like it. It’s not my whole life,” she said. Instead, Prevatt enjoys playing outside, basketball and reading.

She’s also a good speller, according to Principal Betty Jane Green, who spoke highly of Prevatt. The 10-year-old won recognition in a “Wetlands are Wonderful” art contest last year, as well.

“She did a really good job, and I think all the kids did,” Moore said.