Two students from Spring-Ford School District earned the top spots in PA American Water’s 12th Annual “Protect Our Watersheds” Art Contest.

The company received more than 500 entries from fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders across the commonwealth. Pennsylvania American Water announced the contest winners as part of National Drinking Water Week, which runs May 4-10.

The statewide grand prize winner is Owen Kagle, a fourth-grader from Chartiers Valley Intermediate School in Allegheny County. His artwork will be featured on “bloomer cards” and distributed across the state by Pennsylvania American Water. Bloomers are seed-filled cards that, when planted and tended, produce a variety of wildflowers.

In addition, two Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders from Mt. Lebanon earned awards for their artwork. Marley Young placed second, and Madison Jones earned third for western Pennsylvania. The three students will receive gift cards for their winning entries.

Spring-Ford sixth-grader Lauren Ruffo earned first place for eastern Pennsylvania for her artwork depicting a wildlife scene showing how watershed health impacts land and water animals as well as humans.

In addition, Sanaa Amanullah, a fourth-grade student from Spring-Ford’s Oaks Elementary School placed second, and Ashleigh Gutowski, a fourth-grade student from Lackawanna County took third place for eastern Pennsylvania. The three students will receive gift cards for their winning entries.

"We are excited that so many students participated and used their creativity to express the need to protect our watersheds," said Pennsylvania American Water President Kathy L. Pape. "These students are future stewards of our natural resources, and this contest helps them better understand the importance of environmental stewardship.”

Pennsylvania American Water’s contest asks the students to accompany their artwork with a short description of how watershed protection affects them personally.

For more information on our community programs, visit PA American Water’s Community Programs webpage.

5/12/2014