Source: City of Broken Arrow
Karelis Olivares received a special commendation plaque from Mayor Debra Wimpee and City Manager Michael Spurgeon.
It was an exciting day for Karelis Olivares, winner of the City of Broken Arrow Utilities Department’s Drinking Water Week Art Contest.
She received recognition from Mayor Debra Wimpee and City Manager Michael Spurgeon in a ceremony at New Orleans Square to celebrate her design placement on the utility box.
However, the teen was most excited about the event when her father surprised her at the ceremony.
Petty Officer First Class Carlos Olivares — who serves in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in San Diego — was granted leave to attend his daughter’s award ceremony. She had no idea he was going to be attending as the family went to extreme measures to keep the surprise.
“I was really excited, and my emotions were all over the place,” Karelis said.
Karelis, 14, is a 9th-grade student at Bishop Kelley High School. She was attending All Saints Catholic School in Broken Arrow at the time she entered the contest.
Her work titled “Water Fall,” will be on permanent display on an electrical box wrap at 101st Street and Elm Place at New Orleans Square.
When asked about the inspiration for her art, Karelis said, “I chose to put the butterfly in there to signify the beauty of how valuable the water is, and it is a reminder that we need to take care of it before it is too late.”
She says she felt pride that the effort and the time she put into the piece counted.
“It’s priceless to be able to see that your daughter is receiving an award for her effort,” Officer Olivares said.
The annual art contest was a part of Drinking Water Week, a national observance May 2-8 that highlighted the value of water to each of us in our everyday lives.
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