Celebrating Creativity: Otay Announces Four Talented Student Winners of Its Water Poster Contest

Four student artists from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Chula Vista have won the 2024 “Being Water Wise is…” Student Poster Contest hosted by the Otay Water District. The winning artwork stood out from 55 other submissions for emphasizing the value of water and the importance of using it wisely.

As part of its annual education program, the District invites students in its service area to submit a poster illustrating the theme of being water wise. Despite not receiving middle or high school entries this year, the District awarded first through fourth place in the elementary school category.

“This program is meant to allow students to illustrate their understanding of water-use efficiency and share their creative interpretations of what it means to be water wise,” said Eileen Salmeron, Otay’s communications assistant and contest coordinator. “We hope that their generation commits to living WaterSmart for years to come.”

The District will recognize the four winners during its Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Elias Mendoza, a sixth grader from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, has been selected as the first-place winner two years in a row. Mendoza and the other winners will each receive a gift card, certificate, art kit, and goody bag.

The winning posters will advance to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s student poster contest. Those winners will be selected in late summer and featured in MWD’s 2025 art calendar.

For more information about the contest, visit otaywater.gov/education-programs.