Tag Archive for: 2025 Student Poster Contest

Back row (L to R): Vallecitos water District Board member Craig Elitharp, Board President Jim Pennock, Board member Jim Hernandez, and Board Vice President Jennifer Kerschbaum. Front row (L to R): Student winners Maryanne Alvezures, Jimena Castillo Medina, and Liv Williams. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Students Recognized For Conservation Posters by Vallecitos Water District

The Vallecitos Water District (VWD) Board of Directors recognized students from district schools for their excellence in the classroom through its 2025 Student Poster Art Contest at its June board meeting.

Three fourth-grade students from the local community were named winners of the district’s annual student poster art contest. The poster contest, targeting fourth-grade students, is designed to promote an understanding of water issues in elementary schools.

In this year’s contest, 30 students submitted their artwork from the 12 schools with fourth-grade classes within the San Marcos Unified School District.

This year’s theme was “Love Water, Save Water.”  The three winning posters were selected from all entries based on their depiction of the theme, artwork, originality, and poster design.

The winning posters will appear in the 2026 North County Water Awareness Calendar, which will be available free at the district’s office starting in November 2025. The calendar includes winning artwork from 11 North County water agencies.

“It’s inspiring to see how fourth graders turn their creativity into powerful messages about the value of water,” said Vallecitos Board President Jim Pennock. “A big shoutout to our 2025 winners for their amazing artwork and for reminding us all how essential—and worth protecting—our water really is!”

Winning Posters Depict The Value of Water

Jimena Castillo Medina of Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School won first place. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Jimena Castillo Medina of Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School won first place. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Jimena Castillo Medina, a fourth-grade student at Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School, won first place for her artwork, titled “Every Drop Counts.” Jimena says water “is good for your health and it helps people.” Her teacher is Andrea Vigil-Ruiz.

Liv Williams of Discovery Elementary School won second place. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Liv Williams of Discovery Elementary School won second place. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Fourth-grader Liv Williams at Discovery Elementary School won second place for her entry, which featured a mountain landscape and a person immersed in the beauty of the landscape. Liv wrote in her entry that water “helps us with our daily lifestyles. It also keeps us hydrated. Last, it can be really really really pretty!” Her teacher is Holly Hartzell.

Maryanne Alvizures of Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School won third place. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Maryanne Alvizures of Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School won third place. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Third place went to fourth grader Maryanne Alvizures of Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School and also in Ms. Vigil-Ruiz’s class. Maryanne’s artwork depicts the Earth with a massive water faucet, symbolizing rain that provides water to trees, flowers, birds, and animals. Maryanne wrote, “Without water, we will not survive.”

Winning students received gift cards in the amount of $100, $75, and $50.

Finalists in the City of Escondido 2025 Water Awareness Student Poster Contest: Row 1 (L to R): Ethan Blades, Citali Guitierrez, Milan Galiano, Lila Manoocheri, Nathali Morales Amaya. Row 2 (L to R): Baylie Sarno, Ava Barclay, Landon Hickman, Michael Harmon, Matthew Rios Perez, Pakeezah Nabi. Not pictured: Haley Hone. Photo: City of Escondido

Winners Announced In City of Escondido 2025 Student Poster Contest

Twelve fourth-grade students from schools in Escondido were recognized at the City of Escondido’s May City Council Meeting as finalists in the 2025 Water Awareness Student Poster Contest.

Three students were named first, second, and third-place winners for their entries. These three winners will have their artwork featured in the 2026 North County Water Agency Water Awareness Calendar.

The contest is a part of the City of Escondido’s Water Science Education Program, which offers free presentations on a variety of water science topics to elementary school classrooms.

Throughout the school year, City staff provide free water science presentations on a variety of topics from the water cycle to the water treatment process to elementary school students. The contest theme, “Love Water, Save Water,” invites fourth-grade students to consider what they’ve learned about water and to illustrate the value of its water resources.

City staff reviewed nearly 100 entries, which depicted messages of pollution prevention and water conservation. Posters were judged on artistic skill, creativity, and representation of the theme.

Students Depict Value of Water in Winning Artwork

The winning artwork selected for 2025:

Milan Galiano from Heritage Elementary School is this year's first place winner in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest. Photo: City of Escondido 2025 student

Milan Galiano from Heritage Elementary School is this year’s first-place winner in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest. Photo: City of Escondido

First Place: Milan Galiano, Heritage Elementary, Mrs. Miller’s class

Citlali Gutierrez from Lincoln Elementary School is this year's first place winner in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest. Photo: City of Escondido

Citlali Gutierrez from Lincoln Elementary School is this year’s first place winner in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest. Photo: City of Escondido

Second Place: Citlali Gutierrez, Lincoln Elementary School, Ms. Schaffer’s class

Haley Hone from Grace Christian School is this year's first place winner in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest. Photo: City of Escondido

Haley Hone from Grace Christian School is this year’s first-place winner in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest. Photo: City of Escondido

Third Place: Haley Hone, Grace Christian School, Mrs. Arnold’s class

Finalists in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest also include (clockwise from top left): Ava Barclay, Ethan Blades, Landon Hickman, Michael Harmon. Photo: City of Escondido

Finalists in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest also include (clockwise from top left): Ava Barclay, Ethan Blades, Landon Hickman, Michael Harmon. Photo: City of Escondido

The City of Escondido congratulates the 12 finalists in this year’s Fourth Grade Water Awareness Poster Contest and thanks all the talented student artists who entered, as well as their dedicated teachers who brought this opportunity to consider and illustrate the value of water to their classrooms.

Finalists in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest also include (clockwise from top left): Lila Manoocheri, Nathali Morales Amaya, Pakeezah Nabi, Matthew Rios Perez. Photo: City of Escondido

Finalists in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest also include (clockwise from top left): Lila Manoocheri, Nathali Morales Amaya, Pakeezah Nabi, Matthew Rios Perez. Photo: City of Escondido

Finalists in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest also include Baylie Samo. Photo: City of Escondido

Finalists in the 2025 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest also include Baylie Samo. Photo: City of Escondido

 

 

All twelve finalist posters, along with information about rebates and other resources for water conservation, can be viewed on the City’s Environmental Programs webpage.

Three winning posters created by fourth grade students were chosen as the 2025 Olivenhain Municipal Water District Poster Contest winners. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

OMWD Announces 2025 Water Awareness Poster Contest Winners

Three talented fourth-grade students were recognized by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District Board of Directors at its May 21 meeting as the winners of the 2025 North County Water Agencies Water Awareness Poster Contest, themed “Love Water, Save Water.”

Kaiyan Beam from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School and David W. Brand and Audrey Nam, both from Stone Ranch Elementary School, submitted the winning entries.

“This contest inspires fourth-grade artists to highlight the importance of water through creative posters,” said OMWD Board President Matthew Hahn. “Congratulations to our 2025 student winners for their exceptional artwork and commitment to promoting sustainable water use.”

Student Posters Contest Winners Illustrate Contest Theme

The winning poster by Kaiyan Beam from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

The winning poster by Kaiyan Beam from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Kaiyan Beam’s winning poster features a water spigot saving a water drop from falling, with the caption “Don’t waste water, love water.”

The winning poster by David Brand from Stone Ranch Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District student poster contest

The winning poster by David Brand from Stone Ranch Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

David Brand’s winning poster depicts a mountain range and a river flowing through a forest, with the caption, “Love Save Water.”

The winning poster by Audrey Nam from Stone Ranch Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District student poster contest

The winning poster by Audrey Nam from Stone Ranch Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Audrey Nam’s winning entry showcases a colorful machine that recycles water, and the caption is “Water Saver & Recycler.”

The annual Water Awareness Poster Contest is now in its 32nd year. The posters will be featured in next year’s 2026 Water Awareness Calendar.

 

Vista fourth grade students Presley Regan and Cosette Kennedy display their award winning poster contest entries. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Talented Students Win 2025 Vista Irrigation District Awards

Vista Irrigation District (VID) selected three fourth-grade student artists from schools within its district as winners of its annual district-sponsored 2025 Water Awareness Poster Contest, and awarded college scholarships to six graduating high school seniors at its May 7 board of directors meeting.

Vista fourth grade student Brylee Burton-Arner displays her award winning poster contest entry. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Vista fourth grade student Brylee Burton-Arner displays her award winning poster contest entry. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Students Depict Value of Water in Winning Artwork

Grapevine Elementary school student Cosette Kennedy received first-place for her entry. Photo: Vista Irrigation District awards

Grapevine Elementary school student Cosette Kennedy received first-place for her entry. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Cosette Kennedy, a fourth-grade student from Grapevine Elementary School, received first-place honors from VID for her entry in the 2025 Water Awareness Poster Contest. She received a $100 award.

Second place went to the poster entry by Brylee Burton-Arner from Lake Elementary School. Photo: Vista Irrigation District awards

Second place went to the poster entry by Brylee Burton-Arner from Lake Elementary School. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Brylee Burton-Arner from Lake Elementary School received second place and a $50 prize.

Third place went to Presley Regan for her artwork depicting the Earth as a turtle. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Third place went to Presley Regan for her artwork depicting the Earth as a turtle. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Presley Regan of Alamosa Park Elementary School placed third and received a $25 award.

The poster contest, which targets fourth-grade students, is designed to promote an understanding of water issues in elementary schools.

This year’s theme was “Love Water, Save Water.”  The three winning posters were selected from 230 entries based on their depiction of the theme, artwork, originality, and poster design.

All three winners’ artwork will appear in the Vista Irrigation District 2026 Water Awareness Calendar, which will be available free for pickup at the district’s office in November 2025.

College Scholarships Awarded to Six Graduating Seniors

Vista Irrigation District college scholarship winners include (left to right) Hailey Ahmed, Nayleen Griffith, and Andrew Lee. Photo: Vista Irrigation District awards

Vista Irrigation District college scholarship winners include (left to right) Hailey Ahmed, Nayleen Griffith, and Andrew Lee. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Vista Irrigation District presented six $1,500 scholarships to the winners of its annual high school scholarship contest at its May board meeting.

The scholarship contest, open to high school seniors living or attending school within VID’s service area, aims to increase knowledge and awareness of water-related issues affecting the district.

Twenty-two high school seniors submitted applications this year. Applicants were required to complete an essay and provide a personal statement related to their background and/or goals.

Selection criteria also included community involvement or volunteer service and letters of recommendation from high school faculty.

Scholarships were awarded to Hailey Ahmed, Natalie Krahmer, Andrew Lee, and Nathan Sleeper from Rancho Buena Vista High School, Nayleen Griffith from Vista High School, and Christopher Rayo from Mission Vista High School.

Vista Irrigation District is a public agency governed by an elected five-member board.  The district provides water service to roughly 132,000 people in the city of Vista, and portions of San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, and unincorporated areas of the county of San Diego.