The Carson City School District’s School Board of Trustees is pleased to announce nine student winners of the 25th Annual Great American Essay Contest. Each winner was recognized at the school board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10, and received the following cash prizes: First Place: $100, Second Place: $50 and Third Place: $30. Grade level winners include the following.
Elementary School Level:
First Place – Shelby Gallagher, fifth grade, Fritsch Elementary School
Second Place – Byrdie Geering, fifth grade, Fritsch Elementary School
Third Place – Genesis Fuentes-Alvarez, fifth grade, Fritsch Elementary School
Middle School Level:
First Place – Rose Acosta, eighth grade, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School
Second Place – Gabe Sieben, eighth grade, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School
Third Place – Matthew Cooper, seventh grade, Carson Middle School
High School Level:
First Place – Makala Heyder, 12th grade, Carson High School
Second Place – Yaretzi Castillo, 11th grade, Carson High School
Third Place – Zion J. King Brown, 12th grade, Carson High School
The annual contest began in 2002 to honor the memory and events of September 11, 2001. There were 131 total entries (13 Elementary, 102 Middle School and 16 High School). Essays should have included details, facts or narratives to support their answer and were judged within each grade level according to their adherence to the topic, originality of thought and use of the traits of writing. Additionally, ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency and conventions were also considered by judges. The topic this year was the following:
“A strong democracy relies on understanding different perspectives. Describe why it is important to listen respectfully to people with views different from your own and how civil discourse, the ability to disagree respectfully, strengthens a community. How can you encourage and be an example to others?”
Any public, charter, private or home-schooled students in Carson City were able to participate in the contest.
ABOUT Carson City School District
Located in Nevada’s capital, Carson City School District offers public education to approximately 7,300 students throughout Carson City. The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 1 comprehensive high school. Carson City School District boasts many successes, including impressive graduation rates, strict safety measures, programs for gifted students and advanced-placement classes, among several others. For more information, visit carsoncityschools.com.
