CONGRATULATIONS to the 2018 Winners and Honorable Mentions of the 30th “Celebration of Youth” Essay Contest!

We are very pleased and honored to announce the winners and honorable mentions of the 30th 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 Division Winners

First place: Hazel Cross*, Grade 5 – Inspired Teaching School, Latisha Coleman

Second Place: Amelia Fussell, Grade 5 – W.B. Patterson Elementary, Tiffany Rose

Third Place: Haze Warren, Grade 5 – Washington Yu Ying PCS, Monica Hasan

Fourth Place: Elijah Retamoza, Grade 4 – Shepherd Elementary, Ms. Wilson & Mandy Anderson

Fifth Place: Erika Coreas, Grade 5 – Marie Reed Elementary, Harlan Kinzer

Sixth Place: Precious King, Grade 6 – Johnson Middle School, Twana Bradley

Seventh Place: Josselin Aguirre, Grade 6 – Whittier Education Campus, Abby Smith

Eighth Place: Daniyah Kenny, Grade 5 – Whittier Education Campus, Alaina Wood

*Hazel Cross was an Honorable Mention in 2017

Grades 7 to 9 Division Winners

First Place: Morgan McReady, Grade 7 – Alice Deal MS, Megan Belser

Second Place: Terriq Nesbitt, Grade 7 – Wheatley Education Campus, Monica Martinez

Third Place: Erica Montano-Burgess, Grade 7 – Alice Deal MS, Megan Belser

Fourth Place: Brandy Lopez, Grade 7 – Kipp DC: Will Academy, Celena Jenkins

Fifth Place: Ja’Maya Hubbard, Grade 7 – Wheatley Education Campus, Monica Martinez

Sixth Place: Monicarenee Lawley, Grade 8 – Kipp DC: Will Academy, Mr. Ross

Honorable Mentions

• Kassiani Anifantis, Grade 7 -Alice Deal, Megan Belser
• Nysaiah Balbuena, Grade 6 – Capital City PCS, Heidi Marohn
• Hadley Carr, Grade 7 – Alice Deal, Megan Belser
• Takiyah Chappelle, Grade 6 – Howard University Middle School, Ebony Brown
• Anuluowapo Fagbemi, Grade 5 – Whittier EC, Alaina Wood
• Zorian Hill, Grade 4 – Shepherd Elementary, Ms.Wilson & Mandy Anderson
• Nardos Jebril, Grade 5 – Whittier Education Campus, Alaina Wood
• Dolman Jimenez, Grade 4 – Barnard ES, Alina Majer-Robbins
• Serge Kouam, Grade 4 – Barnard ES, Antionette Wortham
• Pierce Andre Lilly, Grade 5 -Washington Yu Ying, Monica Hasan
• Sosthene Manga, Grade 8 – Whittier EC, Abby Smith & Signe Nelson
• Basil J. Mann, Grade 5 – Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, Renata James
• Petra Munter, Grade 7 – Alice Deal, Megan Belser
• Chidiire Nwokwu, Grade 5 – Whittier EC, Alaina Wood
• Natalie Powell, Grade 4 – Barnard ES, Alina Majer-Robbins
• Leon Rahman, Grade 5 – Marie Reed ES, Ms. Harlan Kinzer
• Anijah Rivas-Gregory, Grade 6 – West Education Campus, Casey Davidlow
• Mikalah Scott, Grade 9 – Roosevelt HS, April Williamson
• Sophia Stylianos, Grade 5 – School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens
• Ikedi Ukaegbu, Grade 5 – Whittier Education Campus, Alaina Wood
• Solveig Wartchow, Grade 4 – Maury Elementary, Abby Sparrow
• Mikhail Williams, Grade 5 – Bruce Monroe at Parkview, Amy Dinan