ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA (June 17, 2026) — Nine local students from seven area schools have earned top honors for posters illustrating the value of water in Rowland Water District’s (RWD) annual Water Awareness Poster Contest. Thirty-seven teachers entered class projects in three divisions: kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, and seventh through twelfth grade. The winners were honored at a special RWD board meeting on May 26th.
“Watching students turn something as ordinary as a glass of water into art shows why this program matters to our community,” said RWD General Manager Tom Coleman. “When a child starts thinking about where their water comes from and how to protect it, that lesson often stays with them for life, and that’s exactly the type of commitment we like to inspire.”
All nine first, second, and third place posters have advanced to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) for judging in its regional poster contest. Selected entries appear in MWD’s “Water is Life” calendar, which features 36 student winners from across MWD’s member agencies and reaches communities throughout Southern California.
This year’s RWD winners include:
Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
1st Place: Michael L., Blandford Elementary School, 1st Grade
2nd Place: Wenxin S., Jellick Elementary School, 3rd Grade
3rd Place: Anyan G., Jellick Elementary School, 3rd Grade
4th through 6th Grade
1st Place: Elly H., Wedgeworth Elementary School, 5th Grade
2nd Place: Jessie L., Wedgeworth Elementary School, 5th Grade
3rd Place: Camila P., Blandford Elementary School, 5th Grade
7th through 12th Grade
1st Place: Jessie S., Alvarado Intermediate School, 7th Grade
2nd Place: Coco W., Alvarado Intermediate School, 8th Grade
3rd Place: Ayane M., Alvarado Intermediate School, 8th Grade
Students at Northam Elementary School, Rowland Elementary School, and Nogales High School also submitted entries this year.
The top three posters in each division also receive an Amazon gift card. The first ten teachers to respond with entire class participation also earned free teacher supply kits valued at $100.
“Projects like this give students a practical reason to think about where their water comes from and why protecting it is so important,” said Mrs. Helen Kato, a teacher from Blandford Elementary School. “We are grateful to Rowland Water District for bringing this program to our students and the message of water conservation into the homes of our families.”
RWD representatives judge entries on creativity, originality, and how clearly each poster shares its message about using water wisely. The district has participated in the regional contest for more than a decade, and it continues to be one of its most popular water conservation outreach initiatives.
For a link to winning posters, visit www.rwd.org.
