Wake County Announces Winners of Watershed Poster Contest for Grades 3-5

More than 560 students in grades 3–5 across Wake County entered the “We All Live in a Watershed” conservation poster contest, and Wake County officials announced winners on Feb. 23, 2026. Three students took the top prizes in each grade and will advance to regional and state competitions, organizers said.

The contest was administered by the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District and sponsored by Novonesis, described in the announcement as a global biotechnology company based in North Carolina. Wake County’s release framed the competition as an educational opportunity linking classroom art to local environmental stewardship.

Organizers awarded a ribbon to every entry, with framed certificates for first- and second-place winners and cash prizes of $50 for first place and $25 for second place. The Wake County announcement reiterated that three students won top prizes in each grade - grades 3, 4 and 5 - although only the first-place winners named in the release were published.

The three first-place winners named by Wake County are Aarshvi Undale, a third grader at Morrisville Elementary; Ridhi Bevara, a fourth grader at Apex Friendship Elementary; and Edward Ng, a fifth grader at Green Hope Elementary. Aarshvi spent nearly two months completing her poster; she said, “My favorite part was making the river and sea creatures and the earth. Water and water creatures join together to make a watershed.”

Edward described his poster as bright and colorful and detailed his materials; he used crayons, markers and colored pencils. Edward offered encouragement to peers: “To other kids, I’d say keep going. If you make a mistake, it’s okay. You can cover it up and improve other parts of the poster,” Edward said. No additional technique or time-spent details were provided for Ridhi Bevara in the county announcement.

Wake County Commissioner Susan Evans placed the contest in an instructional context, saying, “Students were invited to create posters that explain what watersheds are, why they matter and how we can protect them,” said Wake County Commissioner Susan Evans. “This annual educational competition has seen many Wake County students succeed at the regional and state levels.” Coverage of the contest described the program as turning “art into action” by showing how everyone can help protect local waterways.

The Wake County news feed that carried the announcement also included unrelated county updates, including a note that Wake County Public Health has relocated to 200 Swinburne St., Raleigh, NC 27610. With corporate sponsorship from Novonesis, district administration by Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, and more than 560 student entries, the contest advances a slate of young artists from Wake County to upcoming regional and state conservation poster competitions.