The Alexander Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) held our yearly environmental education contests for the 2024/2025 school year. The school winners from each category were honored at our Soil & Water Awards Banquet held on April 10th at the Emerald Hill in Hiddenite. All of the education contests shared the theme “Wetlands Are Wonderful!” Each school level winner in all competitions received $20 and a first-place ribbon. County level winners received $30 and a plaque, while runner ups received $15 and a ribbon. Third place county winners received a ribbon. Contests include a 5th grade poster, a 6th grade essay, a 9th – 12th grade essay, a 6th grade computer designed slide show, a 9th – 12th grade computer designed slide show, and a 7th, 8th, and 9th – 12th grade speech contest. The winner of the 5th grade poster contest was Weston Teague from Millersville Christian. The runner up was Vada Barlow from Bethlehem Elementary, and in third was Camden Livingston from Stony Point Elementary. Weston’s poster went on to receive an honorable mention at the Area Level. In addition to those mentioned above, other school level winners were: Ahna Stevenson from Ellendale Elementary, Carter Gates from Hiddenite Elementary, Lucas Hamby from Sugar Loaf Elementary, Izzy Miller from Taylorsville Elementary, and Chloe Laws from Wittenburg Elementary. In 6th grade essay contest, the county winner was Lane Baumgarner from Millersville Christian. The runner up was Bentley Johnson from EAMS, and third was Caleb Kirk from Millersville Christian. Lane’s essay went on to receive 2nd place at the Area Level. This year’s 6th grade slide show contest winner was Rachel Smithey from Millersville Christian Academy. The runner up was Beatrix Valcourt from WAMS, and third was Caylee Parsons from EAMS. Rachel’s slide show went on to receive an 2nd place at the Area level. This year’s county speech contests were held on February 13th at the Alexander Services Center. The seventh grade speech contest winner was Nayeli Galarza Deleon from EAMS. The runner up was Owen Wike from EAMS. Nayeli went on to compete at the area level in Catawba on March 20th and took 2nd place. The eighth grade speech contest winner was Ziva Sothoron from EAMS. The runner up was Aubrey Kriner. Ziva went on to compete at the Area Level in Catawba on March 20th and took first place! She went on to compete at the state level competition on April 25th and represented Alexander County well! The ninth through twelfth grade speech contest winner was Laurel Mitchell from Alexander Central High School. She went on to compete at the Area Level in Catawba County and received 2nd place. Laurel Mitchell also won the ninth through twelfth grade essay contest this year and received 2nd place at the Area level. Alexander SWCD also held a ninth through twelfth grade slide show contest. This year’s county winner was Adrian Castaneda-Covarrubias from Alexander Early College. The runner up was Laurel Mitchell from Alexander Central High School. Adrian’s slide show went on to take 3rd place at the area level. The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors and Staff would like to again congratulate all of the 2025 conservation contest participants and winners on a job well done! We would also like to thank all of our sponsors that donated door prizes and funds to make our Soil & Water Awards Banquet possible. The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors consists of Chairman Myles Payne, Vice Chairman Eugene White, Secretary/ Treasurer Colby Herman, and members Kathy Bunton and Bryant Chapman. Please contact Pamela Bowman, Alexander SWCD Director, at 828-632-0638, for more information on yearly contests or other education programs.
