Practicing water conservation can be colorful, fun, challenging, and rewarding! At least that is what local fourth and fifth graders encountered as they recently competed in the annual Llano Estacado Underground Water Conservation District’s 2021 calendar contest. Although Covid-19 made this year’s contest more challenging to conduct, approximately 500 Gaines County fourth and fifth grade students were invited to compete with 13 winners selected for the 2021 Llano Estacado UWCD calendar.
With recent instructional changes and campus safety measure implemented, students from Loop, Seagraves, and Seminole were provided a virtual educational presentation about local water supplies, the Ogallala Aquifer, and ways to practice indoor and outdoor water conservation. Students were then challenged to design original and unique artwork illustrating their interpretation of water conservation practices.
The Grand Prize winner was Samantha Conde a fifth grader from Seagraves Elementary. Samantha received a $50 cash prize for her artwork entitled “Water Saver (Without Blue . . .)” which promotes the interaction between pollinators, water sources and food supply. This beautiful picture is featured on the cover of the Llano Estacado UWCD 2021 calendar. The remaining 12 winners each received a $25 cash prize for their pictures and have their artwork represented on the monthly pages of the calendar. Winning entries will also be framed and on display at the LEUWCD office in Seminole. Winners and winning pictures can be viewed on www.facebook.com/SOCOPsavingh2o/ or at http://www.savingh2o.org/ after the first week of the new year.
In addition to the 2021 cover winner, Seagraves Elementary student Brando Duran represents August 2021 with “Save The Earth – Water is Life”. Seminole Elementary walked away with the most prizes this year with a total of ten winners! Seminole Fifth graders, along with the months they represent, include Jazmin Conejo (February 2021), Jeremy Wright (April 2021), Arianna E. Perez (May 2021), Joanna Dyck (July 2021), and Kamryn Kirk (December 2021). Five Seminole Elementary Fourth graders were also selected: Timmy Friesen (January 2021), Jackelyne Garza Galicia (March 2021), Eris Guerrero (June 2021), Londyn Guenther (September 2021), and C.T. Kelley (November 2021). Rounding out the monthly winners is Madalyn Fehr (October 2021) from Loop Elementary.
A special “thanks” goes out to the classroom teachers, principals, and staff who worked with us to provide this opportunity to the students during this difficult and challenging fall semester. Our program will continue to support the educational efforts of our school districts whether that be via virtual/remote means or face-to-face.
Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to all 2021 calendar contest winners!
2021 calendars are currently available to the public at the LEUWCD office at 200 East Ave C, Seminole, TX 79360. Artwork from previous winners is also on display at the Seminole office. Contact LEUWCD at 432-758-1127 for further information.
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The Southern Ogallala Conservation & Outreach Program is the education and public relations division of the Llano Estacado UWCD. SOCOP’s mission is to spread underground water awareness and encourage water conservation practices. For more information, visit savingh2o.org.
