Vista Irrigation District Announces Student Contest Winners (May 13, 2026)
Vista Irrigation District awarded college scholarships to five high school seniors and selected three fourth-grade students from the local community as winners of two separate district‑sponsored contests.
A Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 was awarded to Rahel Chiwai from Mission Vista High School, Taylor Sheridan from Rancho Buena Vista High School received a $2,500 scholarship, and $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Stephanie Aguilar from Mission Vista High School, Kawai Chau from Rancho Buena Vista High School and Yahir Landeros of Vista High School as winners in the Vista Irrigation District 2026 scholarship contest.
Charbel Merhi, a fourth-grade student from St. Francis of Assisi School, received first place honors from the district for his entry in the 2026 Water Awareness Poster Contest; he received a $100 award. Riley Semer also from St. Francis of Assisi School and Zoey Watts of Empresa Elementary School received ($50) second place and ($25) third place awards, respectively, for their entries in the contest.
The purpose of the scholarship contest, which is open to high school seniors living within the district’s service area, is to increase the knowledge and awareness of water related issues affecting the district. Five high school seniors submitted applications this year.
The poster contest, which targets students in the fourth grade, is designed to promote an understanding of water issues in elementary schools. This year’s theme was “Love Water, Save Water.” The three winning posters were selected from 168 entries based upon their depiction of the theme, artwork, originality, and poster design. All three winners’ artwork will appear in the 2027 Water Awareness Calendar, which will be available, free of charge, at the district’s office in November 2026.
2026 Student Contest Winners Announced News Release FINAL.pdf
