Elena Rodriguez of Orchard Elementary School in Vacaville tied for first place in the third-grade division. Courtesy photo

DAVIS, CA (MPG) - Twelve students from across Yolo and northeastern Solano counties were recently recognized as winners of the 2026 Clean Air Art Contest by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District Board of Directors and staff. Through exceptional artwork created with colored pencils, crayons, markers, pens and paint, the students used their artistic talents to bring this year’s theme, “Heroes for Clean Air,” to life.

“Thank you to all the students who participated in the contest and created such fantastic artwork,” said Gretchen Bennitt, executive director of the District. “Choosing the winners was incredibly difficult because of the high quality of the entries. We especially enjoy seeing students who participate year after year and watching their artistic talents grow.”

The District received 80 submissions from students in transitional kindergarten through ninth grade this year, representing 16 local schools across the region. The contest serves as one of many ways the Air District engages local communities while promoting awareness of the connection between air quality, public health and the environment.

Instead of being featured in the District’s traditional annual calendar, this year’s winning artwork will appear on stickers and other promotional giveaway items distributed at community events later this year. Each winner also received a gift card in recognition of their achievement. All winning artwork can be viewed online at www.ysaqmd.org/classrooms.

The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District’s mission is to protect human health and property from the harmful effects of air pollution. As a public health agency, the District is responsible for safeguarding air quality and overseeing air pollution control in Yolo and northeastern Solano counties, including the cities of Dixon, Rio Vista and Vacaville. For more information, visit ysaqmd.org. Connect with the Air District via Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Nextdoor.

In the transitional kindergarten through second grade division, first place went to Kira Rehe, a first-grade student at Our Lady of Grace in West Sacramento. Lillian Ong, a second-grade student at Fred T. Korematsu Elementary School in Davis, earned second place. Hiro Bissell, also a second-grade student at Fred T. Korematsu Elementary, placed third, while fellow second-grader Olive Zhang finished fourth.

In the third-grade division, Ophelia Watkins of Robert E. Willett Elementary School in Davis and Elena Rodriguez of Orchard Elementary School in Vacaville tied for first place. Ava Rehe of Our Lady of Grace in West Sacramento earned second place, and Olivia Elaine Brown of Fred T. Korematsu Elementary School in Davis placed third.

In the fourth- through ninth-grade division, Elizabeth Chen, an eighth-grade student at Frances Harper Junior High School in Davis, won first place. Lydia Foo, a ninth-grade student at Frances Harper, took second place. Ryan Rose Lavelle, a fifth-grade student at Shirley Rominger Intermediate School in Winters, placed third, and Mariam Mahmoud, a ninth-grade student at Da Vinci High School in Davis, earned fourth place.