December 20, 2023 — Artwork by 11-year-old Jessica Joel, a sixth grader at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park, was selected by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to appear in its 2024 Water Calendar and digital library.
MWD provides water to 19 million people in Southern California. Students throughout MWD’s service area, including those in the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD), had the opportunity to submit original water-related artwork to MWD’s “Being Water Wise Is…” Student Art Calendar Contest earlier this year. This is the second year that TWSD participated in the calendar contest and the second year that an Oak Park student’s artwork was selected for the calendar.
Jessica Joel’s winning entry
Jessica was a fifth grader at Red Oak Elementary at the time of the contest. “I wanted to show the difference between conserving water versus not conserving it,” says Jessica. “We have the power to either destroy this planet and waste water or save it by conserving it. I save water by taking short showers and reusing water to water my plants.”
“Jess’ inspiration towards saving water had an impact on all of us and made the whole family cognizant to use water mindfully,” says Roslyn Thomas, Jessica’s mom.
Jessica and her family attended the TWSD December 18 board meeting where TWSD board chair Jane Nye presented her with a certificate of recognition, $100 gift card and a gift bag from MWD. Other Oak Park students who submitted entries were also recognized: Scarlett Popek, Cora Popek, Ava Huang, Charlie Huang, Zoe Treppel, Lily Kneller, and Aarush Mane. All submissions were on display during the meeting.
Jessica Joel addresses the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District’s board of directors
The contest was available to students in the Oak Park Unified School District in three grade-level divisions: elementary (K-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12). All TWSD entries were submitted to MWD for consideration.
“Our contest participants understand the importance of water conservation,” says Nye. “The way they were able to convey the water-wise message in their artwork was amazing. Congratulations to all.”
TWSD Directors Ray Tjulander and Leon Shapiro, Chair Jane Nye, Vice Chair Janna Orkney, students Jessica Joel, Zoe Treppel and Lily Kneller, Director James Wall
Jessica’s artwork will be one of only 36 featured in the “Being Water Wise Is…” 2024 MWD calendar and digital library. It will be featured on the January page of the calendar. To see Jessica’s winning drawing and other TWSD entries, go to https://www.triunfowsd.com/student-art-calendar-contest.