Hillsborough County, Fla. (May 13, 2024) - Hillsborough County Water Resources and the City of Tampa Water Department selected the student winners of the 2024 Drop Savers Poster Contest, which helps students understand the importance of conserving vital and limited water resources. In addition, three local winners won at the state level.
Students in grades K-12 were encouraged to create a poster depicting a water conservation idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both, focusing on the importance of water conservation.
The local winners of the contest, which was open to all Hillsborough County Public Schools and private K-12 students, are the following:
Division 1 (Kindergarten-1st Grade):
- First: Fnu Ifrah Mariam, West Tampa Elementary
- Second: Jaden Ou, Chiles Elementary
- Third: Shrineel Patil, Clark Elementary
Division 2 (2nd-3rd Grade):
- First: Gabriel Angeli, Lowry Elementary
- Second: Sarah Justus, Citrus Park Elementary
- Third: Samaira Danduri, Pride Elementary
Division 3 (4th-5th Grade):
- First: Suah Kim, Chiles Elementary
- Second: Ashwika Shetty, Pride Elementary
- Third: Arav Dange, Boyette Springs Elementary
Division 4 (6th-8th Grade):
- First: Samara Ortiz, Foundation Christian Academy
- Second: Jherika Hughes, Progress Village Middle
- Third: Adithi Injeti, Farnell Middle
Division 5 (9th-12th Grade):
- First: Madison Douglas, East Bay High
- Second: Alyssa Simmonds, Hillsborough Virtual High School
- Third: Aashita Rai, Alonso High
The Hillsborough County School Board will recognize the first, second, and third place Drop Savers Water Conservation Poster contest winners at its 5:30 p.m. May 14 regular school board meeting. The first-place winners at the public schools will be awarded a pizza party for the classroom, Florida state park prize, and the student and their classroom will receive reusable water bottles imprinted with the design of the student's winning poster.
The entries for each of the local first-place winners were submitted to the state competition sponsored by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association. Three Hillsborough County students were recognized. Gabriel Angeli won first place in the state second division. Suah Kim won first place in the state third division. And Samara Ortiz won third place in the state fourth division. The winners at the state contest won a plaque, calendar with their poster, gift cards, certificate, tote bags, and a water conservation kit.
Learn more about the Drop Savers Poster Contest and see the winning entries from this year and previous contests.