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 Press Release 

PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) is pleased to announce that Pine Richland student Alekhya Doddapaneni won the statewide One Water Poster Contest sponsored by Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD).  

Doddapaneni, a fourth grader from Eden Hall Upper Elementary School, will advance to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) competition after winning the state and county competitions.  

“Engaging students in conservation topics is essential to cultivate the next generation of wise stewards,” said Hayly Hoch, ACCD Natural Resource Outreach Educator. “We’re proud to showcase a local student’s artwork as part of a national outreach initiative.”  

Each year, the winning posters reflect NACD’s annual stewardship theme and highlight the work of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agencies to protect and enhance natural resources. The contest starts at the county level; winners advance to the state level, and then to the national level, where they receive recognition at NACD’s annual meeting. 

“We all live in a watershed that we share with other people, animals and plants,” said Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director. “This poster contest lets students express how water connects us all.” 

Photo: Doddapaneni's submission won the fourth through sixth grade category in the state conservation poster contest. 

The winners and the county conservation district that submitted the posters are: 

• Category: Kindergarten through First Grade – Aiden German, Columbia County Conservation District  

• Category: Second through Third Grades – Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County Conservation District 

• Category: Fourth through Sixth Grades – Alekhya Doddapaneni, Allegheny County Conservation District 

• Category: Seventh through Ninth Grades – Olivia Greene, Columbia County Conservation District 

• Category: Tenth through Twelfth Grades – Evelyn Warner, Cambria County Conservation District 

• Category: Seventh through Ninth Grades – Digital Poster – Quinn Brown, Delaware County Conservation District  

Allegheny County Conservation District, part of a national regulatory network, engages and leads through partnerships, innovation and implementation to protect, restore and improve Allegheny County’s natural resources. 

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose guiding values include: Sustainable Resource Conservation; Integrity, Local; Education and Outreach; and Partnerships. PACD primarily serves as the collective voice for Pennsylvania’s 66 county conservation districts.