Hatfield Brings Home Top Prize at 2021 Virtual Water Art Invitational

Program Overview

The Service Authority's Water Art Invitational is designed to raise awareness about the value of clean water and to engage students in environmental stewardship through artistic expression. The competition is one of the many ways the Service Authority partners with Prince William County Schools and encourages students to participate in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities.

2021 Virtual Water Art Invitational Awards Ceremony

Hatfield Brings Home Top Prize at Virtual Water Art

Priscilla Hatfield became the second member in her family to be honored at the Prince William County Service Authority’s Water Art Invitational, a water-themed art event held annually for high school students.

Five years after her older brother Seth was runner-up in the Painting & Drawing category, the Gainesville homeschool senior won Grand Prize in this year’s virtual competition with a gorgeous charcoal drawing of white horses riding the surface of breaking waves. Hatfield also was third place in the Mixed Media category.

“Besides being an exceptional piece of artwork, Priscilla’s winning entry clearly depicts this year’s event theme, ‘The Power of Water,’” said Service Authority Communications Deputy Director Kathy Bentz.

In all, there were 106 entries in this year’s event, which was held online for the first time due to health and safety precautions related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

“We were thrilled with the high level of participation since this was the first year for virtual entries,” said Service Authority Board Vice Chairman Joyce Eagles. “I’d like to thank all of the artists, teachers, judges and corporate sponsors who helped make this a unique and wonderful event.”

Priscilla was not the only one who made waves in this year’s competition, which featured four categories: Painting & Drawing, Mixed Media, Computer Graphics and Photography.

Colgan High School’s Amarah Perkins and Isabel Walther took first in Computer Graphics and Mixed Media, respectively. C.D. Hylton High School’s Thia Lam was victorious in Painting & Drawing while Forest Park’s Yamilet Ventura won in Photography.

Maia Demartin of Colgan and Nicole Nguyen of Osbourn Park finished second and third, respectively, in Photography while Colgan’s Abbie Dixon finished second in the Mixed Media category. Chelsea Hodum of Battlefield and Ellie Rushing of Colgan were second and third, respectively, in the Computer Graphics category while Colgan’s Denise Kamgaing and Peyton Davitch placed second and third in the Painting & Drawing category.

In addition, 13 students from five high schools won General Manager Awards for their entries. These entries win special awards from Service Authority General Manager Dean Dickey for their artistic technique and illustration of the theme.

All of the winners and their teachers will receive a cash prize courtesy of our 19 sponsors, and their original artwork will be hung at a Service Authority facility.