Students from the Ripon Unified School District were recognized for their efforts in the recent South San Joaquin Irrigation District Vehicle Wrap Art Contest.

This recent event also served as a way of educating students about SSJID and the importance of water in the community and was open to young artists – first through fifth graders – attending Manteca Unified, Escalon Unified, and RUSD.

“Our grand prize winner was chosen from all of the entries and they will have their art work placed on the tailgates of SSJID’s irrigation delivery trucks through October,” said the local irrigation water district via www.ssjid.gov.

That honor went to Aubree Betschart, who is a fourth grader at Colony Oak Elementary School. Her winning art featured the theme: “Watering the Roots of our Community,” and has already been placed on the tailgates of the SSJID vehicles.

She along with the other winners from the district were honored at Monday’s Ripon Unified school board meeting.

Included were first- through- third grade winners Layla McNeil (1st place, Colony Oak, second grade), Macy Nan (2nd place, Colony Oak, third grade), and Vivienne Vega (3rd place, Colony Oak, third grade.

The fourth-fifth grade winners consisted of Ava Stevenson (1st place, Ripon Elementary, fourth grade), Jasmine Finnarn (2nd place, Ripon Elementary, fifth grade), and Samuel Meems (3rd place, Ripon Elementary, fifth grade).

All art works were required to be original while incorporating the SSJID theme.

SSJID, in addition, considered all students who entered the contest as winners.