Students Take on Water Preparedness in the ACWD’s 8th Annual WaterClips Video Contest by Alameda County Water District Oct 19, 2026 Member Submitted News The Alameda County Water District (ACWD) and Ready Benny, Your Water Preparedness Pal, are teaming up for the 8th annual WaterClips Student Video Contest. From now until March 12, students are challenged to use their creativity to share an important emergency preparedness message: Store Water. Stay Ready. The District will award more than $1,500 in scholarships to students for creating a 30-second video showing how storing water and making a plan can help our community stay ready for an emergency. As part of the challenge, students will incorporate Ready Benny, ACWD’s water preparedness mascot, into their video content and find creative ways to bring the preparedness message to life. The contest is open to students in grades 6–12 enrolled in a school in Fremont, Newark, or Union City. Students may enter individually or as part of a team, with entries competing in two categories: middle school and high school. This year’s theme encourages creative video content highlighting everything from safe water storage to household water storage quantities (don’t forget pets), focusing on the importance of having enough water in an emergency. “Students in our community have an incredible talent for turning important ideas into creative and engaging stories,” said ACWD Board President Aziz Akbari. “This year’s theme allows them to use that talent to show their families, friends, and neighbors why storing water and planning are important parts of being prepared. I look forward to seeing students’ creativity and how that informs our customers.” With Ready Benny joining the contest, students can put their own spin on ACWD’s emergency preparedness message while showcasing their creativity, humor, storytelling, and filmmaking skills. Whether Ready Benny is the star of the video, makes a cameo, or becomes part of an unexpected creative concept, students are encouraged to make the message their own. Students can win up to $500 in scholarships, and teachers have an opportunity to win a classroom scholarship, too. Teachers can qualify by sponsoring a winning student entry or by having the most student entries submitted. Winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony and reception at the Fremont Downtown Events Center. Winning students will also receive a free movie ticket, and their videos will be featured on the big screen at local movie theaters before select films. For more information about the WaterClips Student Video Contest, visit acwd.org/waterclips or email waterclips@acwd.com.
