Thirteen-year-old Ariel Hessler of Ridgway receives her first-place award and $200 for her entry in the Spirit of the River Youth Art & Poetry contest held by the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership. UWP Board President Dennis Murphy and Vice President Amanda Clements are pictured here, presenting her award during the nonprofit’s 10th anniversary celebration at the Ouray Community Center on Nov. 16.
Hessler’s entry, a painting with a quote from author Norman Maclean, “beautifully showcases the movement of water and reminds us that all things merge with our rivers – a beautiful reason to protect them!” judges wrote. Hessler is an eighth grader at Ridgway Secondary School.
Ridgway student Emma Birck, age 10, won second place for her poem titled, “Our Shared Watershed,” which came with a $100 prize.
Julia and Michael Coburn of Ridgway won third place for their watercolor painting. Julia, age 10, and Michael, age 7, received a $50 prize.
Several students received honorable mention awards with $25 prizes, including Sadie McCracken, Emily Thompson, Julia Coburn, Jonah Hepp, Tate Lockwood, Brielle Haag, Emma Birck and Isabel Kamm.
The contest was open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade in the seven-county area within the Uncompahgre River Watershed. Winning art and poems will be on display at the Ridgway branch of Citizens State Bank until Dec. 19.
