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Fifteen-year-old Enrique Arcilla has been chosen as the Mojave Water Agency’s (MWA) 2016 Essay Contest winner. His essay titled, “The Path to Sustainability” focused on a water-wise population in 2036 through efforts begun some 20 years earlier – in 2016. Arcilla’s essay, accompanied by a slide show, featured a fictional woman, “Jocelyn,” and followed her through a typical day in 2036. The presentation provided both a retrospective look at 2016 and how water-wise efforts were somewhat resisted then but eventually became the mind-set norm in Southern California’s desert. “Jocelyn’s” day including the highlights of being water wise – shorter showers with low-flow shower heads, grass yards replaced by water-wise desert landscapes and yards being replaced by crops-barring gardens. Even “Jocelyn’s” frustration with a lack of drinking fountains in the workplace, that had been replaced by for-purchase water bottles in the vending machine, was covered and illustrated in Arcilla’s presentation. The continual need for society to look for additional water conservation means and cooperation undergirded Arcilla’s winning essay.
A sophomore at the Academy for Academic Excellence in Apple Valley, Arcilla has been described by his mother, Monica Loaiza-Arcilla, as “exceptional.” His father, Ricardo, referred to him as “outstanding.” Attendees at MWA’s conference, themed Predicting Our Future by Our Own Design, expressed their awe and admiration for a young man so aware of today’s water climate and his gifted ability in public speaking.
Arcilla’s mother spoke of how her son, even as a one-and-two-year-old would intently focus and follow along when she read to him. “He was so inquisitive and would latch onto words at such a young age,” she said. She shared that now “he likes to have intellectual discussions and to talk and discuss issues.”
Arcilla’s father originally became aware of MWA’s scholarship essay contest while attending one of the agency’s “ABC’s of Water” classes that focused on rainwater catch. He later showed the information on the essay contest to his son and “left it up to him.”
Arcilla’s mother is a 7th grade math and social studies teacher. His father is a business analyst at St. Mary’s Hospital in Victorville.
According to Arcilla he initially entered MWA’s essay contest because of the $5,000 scholarship possibility. However, he acknowledged that as he worked and refined his essay that he realized, “I could have a chance to share my thoughts and increase the consciousness and awareness of the issue. And, if so, I’ve achieved something.”
At school Arcilla has earned a weighted GPA of 4.5 and especially enjoys his Spanish and World Literature classes. He is a member of his high school’s Mock Trial team and is also a member of a collaborative writing project titled “What Happened in Oregon.”
In addition to his academic pursuits, Arcilla enjoys reading books from author Brandon Sanderson. He volunteers at St. Mary’s Hospital and serves as secretary of his high school’s Make-A-Wish Club. He anticipates a career in either psychology or sociology.
The four finalists for the MWA Essay Contest included Raeven Jones from Granite Hills High School in Apple Valley; Nolan Serumaga from University Preparatory School in Victorville; Emilia Cloutman from Sultana High School in Hesperia; and Geng-Wei Lee from Barstow who attends the University of California in Los Angeles. All four finalists received a $1,000 scholarship.
