CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS AND HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR 2015!

We are very pleased and honored to announce the winners and honorable mentions of the 27th Celebration of Youth essay contest. THANK YOU to all the participants, teachers, parents, principals, and other magnificent educators who helped to make this happen. We are very proud of all the students, and we are delighted with this year’s round of winners and honorable mentions. They will be contacted about the details of their acknowledgement ceremony.

Grades 4 to 6 Winners

First Place: Jayden Guidry – Grade 4, SWW@Francis Stevens, Ly Nguyen

Second Place: Kaia N.E. Scott – Grade 5, DC Prep Edgewood Middle Campus, Cristina Grover

Third Place: Jelani Ortiz – Grade 6, Kelly Miller Middle School, Ms. Messina-D’Haiti

Fourth Place: Jahiem Thorne – Grade 4, SWW@Francis Stevens, Ly Nguyen

Fifth Place: Nigel Bronson – Grade 4, SWW@Francis Stevens, Ly Nguyen

Sixth Place: Madison Brown – Grade 5, Yu Ying PCS, Ms. Lisa Holley

Grades 7 to 9 Winners

First Place: Lauren Miller – Grade 9, Columbia Heights Education Campus, Ms. Ferguson

Second Place: Jamar Lee – Grade 7, John Burroughs EC, Ms. Shendrina Walker

Third Place: Gabriell Peterson – Grade 9, McKinley Technology High School, Sarah Elwell

Fourth Place: Darrence Brown – Grade 9, Frank Ballou High School, Ms. L. Tenae Branch

Fifth Place: Fatima Hernandez– Grade 9, Columbia Heights Education Campus, Chivaz Pruitt

Sixth Place: Erin Walker – Grade 9, Frank Ballou SHS, Ms. LaKenya Tenae Branch

Seventh Place: Gabrielle McCarley-Lewis – Grade 9, McKinley Technology HS, Ms. Welsh

Eighth Place: Daro Romas Samb – Grade 7, Columbia Heights E C, Joseph Talarico and Megan Chatalian

Honorable Mentions

• Adebambo Adenji – Grade 4, Barnard Elementary School, Alina Majer
• Joie Barnes – Grade 7, John Burroughs EC, Ms. Shendrina Walker
• Jordan Dominick Battle – Grade 8, John Burroughs Education Campus, Ms. Shendrina Walker
• Sean Bean – Grade 7, Columbia Heights Education Campus, Joseph Talarico and Megan Chatalian
• Jason Gao – Grade 4, Thomson Elementary, Ms. Jacqueline Bruce-Yamin
• Alijah Gladden – Grade 7, John Burroughs EC, Shendrina Walker
• Deranique Graydon – Grade 9, Frank W. Ballou SHS, Ms. Lakenya Tenae Branch
• Kali Kowal – Grade 5, Key Elementary, Mrs. Crosby
• Aprecia Lane – Grade 5, Bruce Monroe Elementary at Park View, Amy Dinan
• Teodora Miric – Grade 4, Thomson Elementary School, Ms. Jacqueline Bruce-Yamin
• Angelica Narte – Grade 7, Columbia Heights Education Campus, Joseph Talarico and Megan Chatalian
• Jaida Nutall – Grade 5, DC Prep EMC, Cristina Grover
• Gloria Onuoha – Grade 9, McKinley Technology High School, Ms. Forde
• Atalanta Ritter – Grade 9, School Without Walls, Carolyn Schulz
• Danny Rivera – Grade 4, Barnard Elementary School, Alina Majer
• Jamal Terry – Grade 4, Thomson Elementary, Ms. Jacqueline Bruce-Yamin
• Ugo Ulu*– Grade 5, DC Prep Edgewood Middle Campus, Ms. Christina Grover
• Dre’an Whiting – Grade 5, Simon Elementary School, Ms. Bradley

* Fourth Place Winner in 2014