McNeal Elementary student art is a drop in the bucket

Students earned the grand prize for water conservation art in a state competition.

  • By Jessica Salmond
  • | 12:40 p.m. May 4, 2016
  • East County
  • Schools
  • Share

Appropriately, it poured the morning Gilbert W. McNeal students got their prize for their state-winning water conservation posters. 

Manatee County Utilities staff delivered the school its grand prize — a decorated rain barrel —for having three students place in a statewide water conservation contest on Wednesday, May 4. 

McNeal students made posters depicting reasons to save water, and submitted them to Utilities staff. The county had nine schools and 63 students who entered the contest; from there, staff picked one poster to enter at the state level from each age group — Kindergarten and first grade; second and third grade, and fourth and fifth grade. The statewide competition was hosted by the American Water Works Association. 

“We all love the Earth and when we lose water, we lose part of the Earth,” said fifth-grader Mackenzie Walker said. 

Nine McNeal students' posters went on to the state contest.
Nine McNeal students' posters went on to the state contest.
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary won the state grand prize for its students' entries into the water conservation poster contest. Manatee County staff delivered the school's new rain barrel Wednesday.
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary won the state grand prize for its students' entries into the water conservation poster contest. Manatee County staff delivered the school's new rain barrel Wednesday.
Olga Wolanin and Ingrida Barkauskaite with the Manatee County Utilities Department presented students with their water barrel and gave ribbons to state winners.
Olga Wolanin and Ingrida Barkauskaite with the Manatee County Utilities Department presented students with their water barrel and gave ribbons to state winners.
Olga Wolanin with Manatee County pins first-grader Dylan Neuweiler with his first place ribbon.
Olga Wolanin with Manatee County pins first-grader Dylan Neuweiler with his first place ribbon.
Third-grader Tanya Dziubek got first place at the state competition.
Third-grader Tanya Dziubek got first place at the state competition.
First-grader Dylan Neuweiler also placed first at state.
First-grader Dylan Neuweiler also placed first at state.
Fifth-grader Mackenzie Walker placed third at state.
Fifth-grader Mackenzie Walker placed third at state. "We all love the Earth and when we lose water, we lost part of the Earth," she said.

 

Latest News

This Lido Shores home at 1436 John Ringling Parkway is listed at $12.98 million.
  • April 1, 2026
Lido Shores home hits the market at $12.98 million
Tony Barrett is running for the at-large District 6 commission seat in Manatee County.
  • April 1, 2026
East Manatee fire commissioner enters at-large County Commission race
  • April 1, 2026
Citywide speed limits set at 20 mph on local streets
The southern end of Longboat Key feature many mid-rise condo buildings including the Beaches of Longboat Key (right, built in 1984), Regent Place of Longboat Key (middle two buildings, built in 1995) and Longboat Key Towers (left two buildings, built in 1970).
  • April 1, 2026
Inspections show LBK condo buildings in sound shape but come at a cost

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content