RIVERSIDE, CA – Western Municipal Water District (Western Water) recently hosted its annual Arts and Grants Reception, celebrating the creative talents and achievements of students and teachers across Riverside County. The event recognized six student winners of the Water is Life Art Contest, five student scholarship recipients pursuing water-related studies, and 20 teachers awarded more than $14,000 through the Lois B. Krieger Water Project Grants for Educators (Krieger Grant) program.
Western Water’s Water is Life Art Contest invited K-12 students throughout its service area to submit artwork evaluated by local water education and art professionals. This year’s theme, “Being water wise is…”, encouraged students to creatively express the importance of water efficiency. Winning pieces were unveiled at the event and are now on display at the Donald D. Galleano Water is Life Art Gallery, located inside Western Water’s lobby.
Western Water also partners with local public colleges and universities within its general service area through its endowed scholarship program, supporting students in fields like environmental science, engineering, water technology, and public policy. These scholarships represent an investment in the future leaders who will protect and manage our most vital resource: water.
The Arts and Grants Reception highlights how the community connects with water through teaching, creativity, and academic pursuits. The Krieger Grant program helps bring water education to life by supporting hands-on classroom activities, field trips, and conservation-focused projects that give students a deeper understanding of how water empowers their every moment.
The grant honors Lois B. Krieger, who served as Western Water’s representative on the Board of Directors for The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for 25 years. She was the first female chairman of the Metropolitan board from 1989 to 1992. The grant bears her name due to her commitment to water education. Western Water provides funding for the grants in conjunction with neighboring water providers who bring water education to local classrooms.
To learn more about Western Water’s education program, please visit WesternWaterCA.gov/Education.
2025 Water is Life Art Contest
Elementary School
1st Place: | 2nd Place: | 3rd Place: |
Middle School
1st Place: | 2nd Place: | 3rd Place: |
Lois B. Krieger Water Project Grants for Educators program
Allison Wagner | Lake Hills Elementary School
Ashlee Wiebe | John Stallings Elementary School
Brittney Livermore | John Stallings Elementary School
Claudia Galvan | John Stallings Elementary School
Deltonya Rawlins | Mark Twain Elementary School
Dinah Palagi | Pedley Elementary School
Don Fitzgerald | Murrieta Valley High School
Elda Conaway | William Collier Elementary School
Esme Alba-Campos | Cesar Chavez Academy
Gabriela Rivera | Loma Vista Middle School
Hebah Khan | John Stallings Elementary School
Janine McConnell | Woodcrest Elementary School
Lina Alfaro | Loma Vista Middle School
Marie Chatterton | Tomás Rivera Elementary School
Mark Zavodnik | Murrieta Elementary School
Monica Mendez | Alvord Unified School District
Regina Saenz-Lara | Valley View Elementary School
Shaun Galvan | Temescal Canyon High School
Viridiana Jauregui | Wells Middle School
Vivian Madrid | Garretson Elementary School
Scholarship Recipients
Alvaro Sanchez | Riverside Community College District - Norco College
Esmeralda Montes de Oca | Riverside Community College District - Riverside City College
Jose Eduardo Jimenez | California State University, San Bernardino
Lincoln Yang | University of California, Riverside
Jessica Betanzo | University of California, Riverside
For more information about Western Water’s facilities, projects, and customer programs, visit WesternWaterCA.gov. Stay updated on the latest projects, programs, and news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.