Talented Student Artists Showcased During Annual Water Conservation Calendar Awards Ceremony

Colorful prints of Florida wildlife and nature decorated the tables recently when Orange County Utilities and Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) honored K-12 student artists whose artwork is featured in the annual Water Conservation Calendar.

Every year, OCPS students are invited to draw artwork or paint rain barrels to feature in the pages of the calendar published by Orange County Utilities.

This year, over 10,000 students at nearly 40 schools participated in the tradition that has been a staple in Orange County for 21 years.

The 2026 calendar features 13 drawings and painted rain barrels, along with six honorable mentions. The cover includes a watercolor of an amphibian in a serene pond setting by a Colonial High School freshman. It also features a team effort from Oak Ridge High School students who created a rain barrel adorned with a parade of jellyfish and other ocean life.

The calendar outreach effort was introduced in 2005 to educate and inform students about the importance of water conservation – a win-win that hopefully will influence good water-saving habits well into the future.

This year’s calendar contest culminated with a recent ceremony during Water Conservation Month in April, where teachers were thanked, and students had an opportunity to shine.

Congratulations to this year's winning student artists. For a complete image gallery from the ceremony, visit bit.ly/2026-Calendar-Awards.