Water Conservation Calendar Awards Ceremony Commemorates Two Decades of Student Talent

Orange County Utilities and Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) recently gathered to honor imaginative K-12 student artists whose work is featured in the annual Water Conservation Calendar, now a 20-year tradition.

Earlier in the school year, OCPS art teachers invited K-12 students to draw artwork while middle and high schoolers had the added option of painting rain barrels, which are used to capture rainwater for irrigation.

The 2025 calendar ultimately featured 13 drawings and painted rain barrels along with six honorable mentions.

Various images—from colorful depictions of the earth to wildlife including whales and other sea life—that supported the water conservation message are featured throughout this year’s calendar.

The student artists selected were then recognized during a special awards ceremony where their families, teachers, and staff celebrated their accomplishments.

The overarching purpose of the awards ceremony was to shine a spotlight on the student efforts and their selected artwork, while also thanking the teachers for their support.

County, school district, and utility leaders praised the effort, which annually focuses on conservation during national Water Conservation Month in April.

The goal of the two-decades-old calendar program that started in 2005 is to focus on creative talents while instilling in young artists the importance of using water wisely throughout their burgeoning lives.

Congratulations to this year’s winning artists.

For a complete image gallery from the festivities, visit https://bit.ly/2025-Calendar-Awards.