NAHANT — Three Johnson Elementary School students were recognized by the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth for their entries in the Elementary Level Poster contest.

Fourth-grader Marlowe Williams was the winner of the statewide competition, while siblings Brady, a fifth-grader, and Kiele Laine, a second-grader, received honorable mentions.

The three students crafted colorful drawings centered around the theme of respect. They were recognized in front of the School Committee during its latest meeting.

“There’s many different ways that respect can be shown and it’s so important,” MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels said. “I can see that in your school, you have a culture of respect and appreciation for inclusion and diversity.”

Superintendent of Schools Tony Pierantozzi also serves as the president of the MPY Board of Directors, and emphasized how unbiased the judges are in their selection process.

“It’s a double blind,” Pierantozzi explained. “They don’t know the age of the students, the gender of the students, or the school.”

Art teacher Laura Petrovich-Cheney was unable to attend the meeting, but she was celebrated for her role in helping the students grow as artists and express their creativity.

Each student was given the chance to demonstrate the meaning of their work.

“I wrote ‘Respect: Give it, get it,’” Williams said about her award-winning drawing. “And I drew a bunch of hands, which means all people and everyone.”

Each student received a certificate as well as an Amazon gift card.