Provided by Prince William County Service Authority
Denise Kamgaing, a junior at Charles J. Colgan High School, is the Grand Prize winner of the Prince William County Service Authority’s 2023 Water Art Invitational. Interpreting the theme “Every Drop Counts,” Kamgaing won the top prize with a detailed painting that shows the perspective from inside a water well.
Denise is one of 31 Prince William County Public Schools students who received awards and one of 166 entries. Entries this year depicted the many ways in which water is an indispensable natural resource and a crucial part of our daily lives. The artwork includes imagery of plants, animals, industry, recreation and more.
You can view the virtual photo gallery of this year’s winners in the link here artsteps | Water Art Invitational 2023 Winners Gallery.
The Service Authority hosted its annual Water Art Invitational Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 9, at its administrative facility in Woodbridge. After two years of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 340 people registered to attend this year’s in-person awards ceremony.
Students in grades 9 through 12 who attend public, private and homeschool programs in Prince William County were eligible to participate. The entry categories included Photography, Computer Graphics, and Painting & Drawing. In Photography, First Place went to Mackenzie Talbert of Forest Park High School. In Computer Graphics, Emily Hummel of Forest Park High School took home First Place. In Painting & Drawing, First Place went to Adeline Bishop of Colgan High School.
Another 21 students took home a General Manager’s Award for their fine artwork. Service Authority General Manager/CEO Calvin D. Farr, Jr. selected these entries for special recognition due to their artistic quality and strong connection to the event’s theme.
The 2023 Water Art Invitational would not have been possible without its 20 corporate sponsors, including Bean, Kinney & Korman, GHD, ABM Co., Inc., AECOM and Ulliman Schutte Construction, this year’s largest sponsor.
“We’re passionate about helping students find their passion and could not be happier to support this fantastic program,” said Al McCullough, Vice President, Ulliman Schutte Construction.
Winning students and their teachers received cash prizes provided by corporate sponsors. Each winning piece of art will be framed and displayed in Service Authority facilities and featured in a Water Art Invitational wall calendar for 2024.
Complete list of winners and categories:
Grand Prize:
Denise Kamgaing, Colgan High School
Photography:
- First Place: Mackenzie Talbert, Forest Park High School
- Second Place: Kelem Abreham, Forest Park High School
- Third Place: Mya Aure, Forest Park High School
Computer Graphics:
- First Place: Emily Hummel, Forest Park High School
- Second Place: Kathryn Quintiliano, Colgan High School
- Third Place: Emily O’Leary, Gainesville High School
Painting & Drawing:
- First Place: Adeline Bishop, Colgan High School
- Second Place: Daryl Price II, Colgan High School
- Third Place: Gabriela Molina Otaiza, Colgan High School
General Manager’s Awards:
- Angeline Villagran, Osbourn Park High School
- Anna Reid, Patriot High School
- Avrie Mosley, Forest Park High School
- Calista Drummond, Patriot High School
- Carter Logsdon-Lowe, Gainesville High School
- David Hess, Battlefield High School
- Dayana Palacios, C. D. Hylton High School
- Erik Henriquez, Osbourn Park High School
- Hiba Chaaibi, Potomac High School
- Jordan Spencer, Battlefield High School
- Joshua Herer, Woodbridge High School
- Karina Achico, Colgan High School
- Kimberly Audios, Colgan High School
- Margaret Neall, Forest Park High School
- Maria Salina, C. D. Hylton High School
- Tavian Anderson, Woodbridge High School
- Marisa Bah, Colgan High School
- Neve Kelly, Woodbridge High School
- Paula Ramirez-Castillo, Forest Park High School
- Samia Abdi, Patriot High School
- Ziyi Wang, Gainesville High School
For over 20 years, the Water Art Invitational has encouraged, recognized and rewarded the talented young artists of Prince William County.
