Dana Point CA Dec 3 2008 - A coalition of educators, corporate sponsors and action sports heroes honored students at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point Wednesday night who had winning entries in this year's 'Water Innovation Now' contest for O.C. Schools.

Famed surfer Rob Machado and skater Danny Way successfully convinced a half-million Orange County schoolchildren that it's cool to care about California's water crisis. The two athletes were part of a team of educators, corporate sponsors and figures from the action sports industry who invited students to "Imagine Life Without Water. The Water Innovation Now (WIN) contest honors students from kindergarten through twelfth grade who created presentations via PowerPoint, video, or poster board that demonstrated innovative solutions to the water crisis.

William M. Habermehl, Orange County Superintendent of Schools, stated, "Through this collaboration, students were empowered to share their creative solutions for water conservation with representatives and scientists from around the world, and they were inspired to form a partnership for global stewardship of the environment. A partnership of this sort has the capacity to benefit the current generation and future generations to come."

Over thirty companies jumped on board to sponsor the contest and to incentivize the students to participate. Disney's Environmentality Challenge, Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC), Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, Whole Foods SoPac, Chipotle, Ocean Institute, Quiksilver, Wyland Foundation, Roxy, Hurley, Element, Sector 9, Cox Communications, Tavarua Resort, Univision, Fuel TV and many more have donated cash, prizes, product, and services to make the contest irresistible to kids. The first place prize is a trip for the winner and his or her parents/guardians to the Tavarua Resort in Fiji for a surf vacation. Other prizes include "hang out" sessions with professional athletes; surfers Rob Machado and Rochelle Ballard, and skaters Danny Way, Bob Burnquist and Geoff Rowley.

Frank Scura, Executive Director of Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC) is a driving force in protecting the playground that surfers, skaters, and snowboarders use on a daily basis. Frank was glad that he got so many sponsors to help out . Ric Kraszewski, surfer and co-founder of Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, an organic snack maker that gives 10% to ocean conservation, said "I was thrilled that Frank asked us to participate. Frank has so much passion and these type of projects show we have a bright future. I just know these kids will play a huge role in making a difference" Ana Rothwell, UCI-UNESCO Youth Committee Chair added "Our job was to make it fun for kids and to help them in their efforts to be spokespeople for our planet."

The contest began the week of September 22 and entries were due on October 31, 2008. Projects were judged on innovation, creativity, and knowledge about the issue they are focused on.

The theme of the Water Innovation Now contest challenged students to think about solutions and present them in one of three ways - a one-minute PowerPoint presentation, a 30-second public service announcement or a photo of a project with a one-page narrative about it. Information for the contest was distributed to 800 public and private schools in Orange County, the sponsors said.

The winners are:
Grand Prize Brett Solow, "Water Wisely." Woodbridge, IUSD

K-3 Grade Christine Park, "Water is Important." Crystal Cathedral Academy , Estefania Salas, Mya Shimizu, Emily Vandercook, "Life With and Without Water." Cyrstal Cathedral Academy, and Simone Robson, "Stop the Drop." Courreges Elementary, FVSD

4-6 Grade Maxwell Menzies, Daniel Franz, "Positive Solutions to Water Conservation." Arovista, BOUSD, Ricardo Lopez, Osvaldo Vega, Danny Gonzalez "A World Without Water" Rea School, NMUSD, Julienne Chiang, "Water Innovation Now" Courreges Elementary, FVSD

7-9 Grade Madison Allshouse, "Surf the Turf." Lexington Jr. High, AUHSD, Tanner Merrill, John Simard, "Don't Lose Your Ocean." San Juan Hills High, CUSD, Sean Ryan, June Huston, "Every Drop Counts." Shorecliffs Middle, CUSD

10-12 Grade Brett Solow, "Water Wisely." Woodbridge, IUSD, Simona Bor, Pavendeep Rakhra, Shoma Sanyal, "Water Conservation Now." Valencia, PYLUSD, Parker Golden, Josh Martinez, Tyler Ortega and Thomas Cobbs, "Two-Way Toilet." Woodbridge, IUSD