Celebrating Artistic Talent at the 2025 Water Art Invitational Award Ceremony

2025 Student Water Art Contest Winners Announced

WOODBRIDGE, VA, Mar 10, 2025 - On Wednesday, March 5, Prince William Water recognized 26 Prince William County high school students during its 2025 Water Art Invitational Award Ceremony. Hosted at Unity Reed High School, the event was attended by student artists, their families, teachers and several event sponsors.

This year’s competition received 190 entries from students representing 10 high schools. There were three categories for entries: painting/drawing, computer graphics, and photography. The theme for this year’s competition was “Your Water. Your Environment.” 

“The Water Art Invitational is a chance for students to showcase their roles as environmental stewards, raising awareness about the value of clean water through the power of art,” said Prince William Water General Manager and CEO Calvin D. Farr, Jr. “I’m always pleasantly surprised to the see the quality of the artwork and it’s a thrill to know that such talented individuals are shaping the future of our community.”

The award-winning student artwork can be viewed at https://Prince-William-Water.dcatalog.com/v/Water-Art-Invitational-Winners-2025/.

Ella Sofia Lemen of Colgan High School earned the Joyce P. Eagles Grand Prize for her artwork, which features a young girl watering flowers and highlights the relationship between taking care of our environment and the environment taking care of us in return.

The Grand Prize is now named in honor of former Prince William Water Board of Directors’ member—and Water Art Invitational supporter—Joyce Eagles, who passed away in 2024 after 34 years of service on the Prince William Water Board.

Winning students and their teachers received cash prizes provided by sponsors. Each winning piece of art will be framed and displayed in Prince William Water facilities and featured in a Water Art Invitational wall calendar for 2026.

2025 Water Art Invitational Winners

Joyce P. Eagles Grand Prize Winner:

Ella Sofia Lemen, Colgan High School

Painting & Drawing:

First Place: Molly Montgomery, Gainesville High School

Second Place: Kara Avolio, Colgan High School

Third Place: Morgan Smith, Woodbridge High School

Computer Graphics:

First Place: Jazmine Scott, Unity Reed High School

Second Place: Eden Mootooveeren, Gainesville High School

Third Place: Jenna Heilen, Battlefield High School

Photography:

First Place: Catherine Lee Bedell, Gainesville High School

Second Place: Arwa Zinddine, Gar-Field High School

Third Place: Caitlin Owlett, Forest Park High School

Keep Prince William Beautiful Choice Award:

Kathryn Quintiliano,Colgan High School

General Manager’s Awards:

Maddie McClellan, Battlefield High School

Rachel Elrod, Colgan High School

Jamie Scheufele, Colgan High School

Christopher Brainoo, Colgan High School

Rylie German, Colgan High School

Brooklyn Porfiris, Colgan High School

Damien Williams, Forest Park High School

Sofia Lerch, Forest Park High School

Taylor Parker, Forest Park High School

Bibi Hajera Niazai, Freedom High School

Laren Swonger, Gainesville High School

Credo Awoussi, Gar-Field High School

Samantha Halander, Hylton High School

Cole Francis, Patriot High School

Clara Nguyen, Unity Reed High School

Brandon Ayala Chavarria, Woodbridge High School

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Prince William Water has been providing drinking water and water reclamation services for Prince William County since 1983.