Las Vegas – Multipure, a trusted leader in the water filtration industry for more than 50 years, announces the winners of its art and essay contest created in partnership with the Clark County School District’s (CCSD) Community Engagement unit. To celebrate the release of Dewey, the Clean Water Superhero’s latest free comic book, Vendetta for Vitality, students in grades K-5 were invited to design Dewey’s next comic book villain, a character that threatens clean water, and write a 50-word explanation of why Dewey must defeat them. 

Multipure received an impressive 268 creative submissions from across the school district, showcasing incredible imagination. The winning designs were showcased at the Las Vegas Science & Technology Festival’s Giant Expo on May 3, 2025, where Multipure hosted an interactive booth featuring demonstrations and educational activities. The winners have also been highlighted on Multipure’s social media platforms. 

After careful review, Multipure is thrilled to announce the following winners:

Student Winners:

1st Place: $150

Kirsten Ivory – Mr. Armijo, 3rd grade, Toland International Academy

Name of Villian – Toxic Girl – Makes water dirty

2nd Place: $100

Damian A. Cabello – Mrs. Aban, 2nd grade, Walter Bracken STEAM Academy

Name of Villian – Frostbite – Freezes and destroys water resources

3rd Place: $50

Evan Merino – Ms. Harry, 4th grade, Roger D. Gehring Academy of Science and Technology

Name of Villian – Tony Toxin – Infiltrates groundwater and makes it toxic

Top-Submitting Classroom:

John S. Park Elementary – Ms. Rosenberger’s 3rd grade class

Prize: $300 + an Hydration Party from Multipure where Dewey will demonstrate the importance of water and hand out surprise gifts.

Top-Submitting Schools:

1st Place: Roger Gehring Elementary School – $1,700

2nd Place: Gwendolyn Woolley Elementary – $1,500

3rd Place: Helen Anderson Toland International Academy – $1,200

Dewey, The Clean Water Superhero mascot, will personally present prize checks to the top participating schools.

“Our goal with this contest was to inspire creativity while educating young students about the importance of clean water,” said Zachary Rice, President of Multipure. “We’re excited to feature their work as we were so impressed by the ideas these students came up with; they are imaginative, thoughtful, and show a real understanding of why protecting water matters.”

The contest ties into the launch of Multipure’s third comic book issue, Dewey, the Clean Water Superhero: Vendetta for Vitality, which addresses the real-world issue of kids choosing sugary, highly caffeinated drinks over water. In this action-packed story, Dewey battles the Vigor Vandal, a sinister villain who drains people of their energy and thrives on a population addicted to artificial beverages. Dewey saves the day by reminding everyone that hydration is the key to real energy and health: “It’s never too late to hydrate!” Readers can download free digital copies of all issues at: https://www.multipure.com/dewey.

“Kids have easy access to sports drinks, sodas, and energy drinks, but the best fuel for their bodies is simple: Water,” said Zachary Rice, President of Multipure. “With Dewey, the Clean Water Superhero, we are turning that message into an action-packed adventure, showing kids that real energy starts with proper hydration.”

Despite water’s critical role in health, research shows that more than half of U.S. children and teens aren’t drinking enough of it. Instead, many turn to beverages with sugar and caffeine, which experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, warn against due to potential health risks. Multipure’s comic aims to promote healthier habits by making hydration fun, engaging, and empowering.