A new art contest outreach by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, designed to encourage water awareness in young students, has resulted in a big win for a Dent Elementary student.
Marissa Terry, a fifth grader, earned first place in her grade division and also took the grand prize. Her artwork is also being displayed on a number of SSJID vehicles.
“We currently participate in events like ag days and thought this event, that we are hopeful will become an annual event, will be another way to communicate the importance of water to our younger population,” said SSJID Customer Service Manager Robin Giuntoli.
This was the first year for this event and SSJID officials said they plan on having a different theme each year; this year the theme was “Everything Grows Where Water Flows”.
The contest was open to elementary age students from the public schools in Manteca, Ripon and Escalon Unified School Districts. Artwork was submitted in two grade level categories, first through third grades and fourth and fifth grades.
There was a first, second and third place winner in each of the grade categories and a grand prize winner. First place winners received a $75 Target gift card; second place winners received a $50 Target gift card; third place winners received a $25 gift card. The grand prize was a $100 gift card.
Terry received a total of $175 in gift cards and her artwork will be displayed on SSJID’s division manager trucks, seven in all, for the 2019 irrigation season. Dent Elementary School also received a $250 Staples gift card to be used for school art supplies.
The panel of judges included James Ferguson, SSJID’s Shop Supervisor; Andrew McDonald, SSJID’s Division Manager for Division 2; and Georgianne Rose, owner of Spaces Design Group in Manteca. Serving as the project lead was Troylene Sayler, SSJID’s Communications Director.
Along with Terry picking up the grand prize and first place in the grades 4-5 category, Van Allen Elementary third grade student Peyton Jacobs took first place honors in the first through third grade category, receiving a $100 gift card.
Other winners were: first through third grades, second place Paisley Hall, first grade, Colony Oak – Ripon; third place, Brooke Demichelis, first grade, Colony Oak – Ripon.
Fourth and fifth grades: second place, Mia Ona, fifth grade, Veritas School – Manteca; third place, Munveer Dosanjh, fifth grade, Veritas School – Manteca.
There were a total of 57 entries received for the art contest. The school with the highest participation was Colony Oak in Ripon with 32 entries. Also participating were Mossdale Elementary, Veritas School, Dent Elementary, Van Allen and Farmington.
