Twelve local students have been honored as finalists in the 2018 Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD)’s annual Water Awareness Student Art Contest at a ceremony held during the District’s Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. The winning artworks were selected from more than 1,900 entries submitted by elementary and high school students within the LVMWD service area. Artworks were created using different types of media, including watercolors, pastels, markers and crayons; all centering on the importance of water in our daily lives and what the budding artists consider to be "water heroes."

Families, teachers and Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) officials joined student finalists at the recognition ceremony. Each student was presented a personalized Certificate of Recognition and T-shirt, featuring their artwork. Little Drop was on hand to welcome participants along with LVMWD Board members and staff.

The Ann Dorgelo Water Awareness Award, a perpetual traveling trophy and named after a long-term LVMWD board member in recognition for her commitment to excellence in education, was presented to Samantha Matz, a 6th grader from Mariposa School of Global Education in Ms. Reynold’s class. Her "Save Every Last Drop" drawing reminds us that water is essential to all living things.

The 11 other finalists in this year’s contest are:

• Gavin Tesser, a 4th grader in Ms. Kodama’s class, Bay Laurel Elementary
• Tessa Elliott, a 4th grader in Mrs. Alfonso’s class, Bay Laurel elementary
• Abigail Nakano, a 5th grader in Mrs. Costantino’s class, Chaparral Elementary
• Kaitlyn McMullen, a 4th grader, in Ms. Maxwell’s class, White Oak Elementary
• Kimia Pharrahpur, a 2nd grader in Ms. Ramsey’s class, Yerba Buena Elementary
• Lily Moscot, a 5th grader in Mr. Borg’s class, Willow Elementary
• Diana Barone, a 4th grader in Mrs. Doucedame’s class, Willow Elementary
• Abigail Alyn, an 8th grader in Ms. Tyloch’s class, Mariposa School of Global Education
• Harper Schexnaydre, a 6th grader in Ms. Reynold’s class, Mariposa School of Global Education
• Livia Sisino, a 6th grader in Ms. Reynold’s class, Mariposa School of Global Education
• Samantha Matz, also a 6th grader in Ms. Reynold’s class, Mariposa School of Global Education

"This is one of my favorite educational outreach programs that LVMWD sponsors because it engages the creativity and thoughtfulness of our students," said Jay Lewitt, LVMWD Board member. "I am inspired by the stories and the messages the students share through their art on the importance of water, it reminds all of us that we have a collective responsibility to do our part to conserve the most precious of resources for them."

The top twelve artworks can be viewed at LVMWD.com/2018-student-art-contest-finalists. These artworks will also join those of past finalists on display at LVMWD headquarters on Las Virgenes Road.

The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District provides potable water, wastewater treatment, recycled water and biosolids composting to more than 70,000 residents in the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village, and unincorporated areas of western Los Angeles County.

For more information about the LVMWD, please visit LVMWD.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.