Gwinnett County Student Wins Fifth Annual Water Essay Contest

(ATLANTA - January 10, 2007)

Kathryn Fazekas, a student at Wesleyan School, is the Gwinnett County and overall winner in the fifth annual water conservation and preservation essay contest, sponsored by the Clean Water Campaign and the Water Use It Wisely Campaign. Fazekas, a sixth grader, receives a $100 cash prize. Commission Chairman Charles Bannister will present her award Thursday, January 18, 2007, at 8:30 AM at the school.
The essay contest encourages children to address the growing need to improve water quality and conservation efforts in Georgia. Students researched and shared their thoughts on why conserving water and preventing water pollution are important for the future of their river, lakes and streams. The main goal of this program is to encourage students to create inventive solutions to water conservation and water quality in metro North Georgia.

In her essay, Kathryn Fazekas said, “We can all help the environment by learning to conserve water at home.  People can check their faucets and toilets for leaks. They can replace old toilets with new water-saving toilets. They can buy water-efficient dishwashers and clothes washers and run these only when they are full. People can take shorter showers and turn off the water when brushing their teeth.  If we all do our part in trying to protect the environment and conserve water, then there will be enough fresh water for everyone now and in the future.”

The contest was open to sixth, seventh and eighth graders in Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, Rockdale and Walton Counties. Each participating school submitted its winning essay for the county competition, and one overall winner was selected from among the county winners. County winners receive a Clean Water Campaign / Water Use It Wisely certificate presented by an elected official from that county.

To view the names of the winners and the winning essays, visit the Clean Water Campaign’s Web site (www.cleanwatercampaign.com) and click on the essay contest link.

About the Clean Water Campaign
The Clean Water Campaign is a cooperative, multi-agency public education initiative spearheaded by local governments in metro Atlanta, supported by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Its mission is to build awareness of water quality problems and solutions in the Atlanta region.

About Water- Use It Wisely
Water- Use It Wisely (www.wateruseitwisely.com) is a program that educates consumers about specific and simple water conservation measures they can use everyday to help. It is a multi-state program that is being sponsored in the metro Atlanta area by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.

Wesleyan School is located in Norcross, GA. For more information about the school or student, please call 770.448.7640.

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