waterSmart Honors 12 Cobb County Students in 10th Annual Allatoona Ally Artist Challenge

MARIETTA, Ga. (Feb. 10, 2015) – The Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority (CCMWA) and Cobb County Water System congratulate the 12 Cobb County elementary school students chosen as this year’s winners of the 10th Annual Allatoona Ally Artist Challenge.

Cobb County fourth- and fifth-grade students were invited to create coloring book illustrations depicting Lake Allatoona’s own ambassador, Allatoona Ally, in her efforts to educate others about water conservation. The challenge received more than 535 entries from 27 participating schools.

The coloring book featuring the top 12 entries will be distributed throughout the community and available for free download at watersmart.net. In addition, an autograph party will be held to honor the winning artists on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. at the South Cobb Regional Library. Park Rangers from Allatoona Lake will swear in the new Junior Water Deputies and will speak to the students and their families about the importance of water conservation.

The winners of the 2015 Allatoona Ally Artist Challenge include:

• Emma Acker, fifth-grade, Tritt Elementary
• Jasmine Banner, fourth-grade, Garrison Mill Elementary
• Lynsey Blevins, fifth-grade, Big Shanty Intermediate
• Aubrey Coleburn, fifth-grade, Addison Elementary
• Skyler Galper, fifth-grade, Kemp Elementary
• Mikey Gravette, fifth-grade, Otis Brumby Elementary
• Madison Levine, fourth-grade, Mountain View Elementary
• Abbi McElvy, fourth-grade, Timber Ridge Elementary
• Kieran Sears, fifth-grade, Bryant Elementary
• Jordan Sturgies, fifth-grade, Bryant Elementary
• Haleigh Smith, fourth-grade, Hendricks Elementary
• Gabrielle Weber,fifth-grade, Sope Creek Elementary

Big Shanty Intermediate School’s Lynsey Blevins’ illustration was selected as the cover art for the 10th Anniversary Edition of the “Adventures with Allatoona Ally” coloring book.

“Educating students about water conservation at an early age is crucial to the future of our water resources in Georgia,” says Becky Mixon, program director for waterSmart. “With this year being the program’s 10th anniversary, we are overwhelmed with the quality and creativity of the artwork that will encourage others to save water.”

A panel of judges – including Val Hoff, 11 Alive Anchor; Heather Thornton, Lake Allatoona Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger; and Walter Reeves, Host of “The Lawn and Garden Show,” – carefully selected the winning illustrations.

“The future looks brighter when younger generations express such enthusiasm about helping to save water,” says Kathy Nguyen, senior project manager at Cobb County Water System. “We are very proud of all those who participated while spreading this important message.”

About waterSmart

The waterSmartSM program was initiated by CCMWA in 2000 to educate their service area residents of all ages about the importance of indoor and outdoor water conservation and to help encourage sustainable, year-round conservation, regardless of climate conditions. CCMWA is in its eleventh year of providing the waterSmart program to the community. For more information on water conservation and waterSmart, visitwww.waterSmart.net.