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2023 Contest Announcement

2022 Contest Winners Announcement:

We are delighted to announce the winners and honorable mentions for the 34th “Celebration of Youth” essay contest for students in grades 4 to 9 in DCPS and DCPHS schools.

2022 Special Mentions:

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2022 WINNERS & HONORABLE MENTIONS

34th “Celebration of Youth” Essay Contest Winners & Honorable Mentions

We are very proud of you. THANK YOU for capturing the spirit of the essay contest and for being the brave, smart, talented individual you are.

Grade 4-6 Winners

First Place: Bridgette Miranda Gonzales, 5th grade, Bruce Monroe Elem., Amy Dinan

Second Place: Jonah Meyer, 4th Grade, Eaton Elementary, Anthony Tarzia

Third Place: Jonas Gamy, 4th Grade, Langley Elementary, Amanda Texeira

Fourth Place: Elliana Marie Strauss, 5th Grade, Bancroft Elem., Ms. Vilma Luque

Fifth Place: Caroline Wilding, 6th Grade, Alice Deal MS., David Silberman

Grade 7-9 Winners

First Place: Margo Lewis, 9th Grade, Jackson Reed HS, Lisa Grymes

Second Place: Lela Harkrader, 8th Grade, Alice Deal Middle School, Ms. Norton (5th Place Winner in 2021)

Third Place: Serge Tchamo, 8th Grade, MacFarland MS, Alina Majer (Honorable Mention in 2021, 2019, 2018)

Fourth Place: Robert Curington, 9th Grade, Benjamin Banneker

Fifth Place: Emma Cappelloni, 7th Grade, Alice Deal MS., Elisabeth Hoyson (Honorable Mention in 2021, Second Place Winner in 2020)


Honorable Mentions

Avi Berger, 5th Grade, Tyler Elementary School, Ms. Julianne Wiliams

Zeinab Dembele, 7th grade, Ida B. Wells Middle School, Mrs. Maja

Leo Feldman, 5th grade, School Without Walls@Stevens, Jennifer Myers

Hanna Floyd, 9th Grade, McKinley Tech, Ms. Linda Wallace

Aylea’ Ford, 6th Grade, Excel Academy, Ms. Caniya Ray

Maurice Ford, 4th Grade, Langley Elem. School, Amanda Texeira

Ariana Escobar Fuentes,4th Grade, Bruce Monroe@Parkview, Ms. Montiel & Ms. Cevantes

Daniel Goldson, 6th Grade, DC Prep Edgewood Middle Campus, Ms. Watson

Evelyn Hartless, 9th grade, McKinley Tech HS, Ms. Linda Wallace

Lainey Huey, 4th grade, Lafayette Elementary, Alison Dalton

Dialo Jackson, 5th Grade, Tyler Elementary, Ms. Julianne Williams

Brenda Kouam, 9th Grade, Benjamin Banneker HS, Alina Majer, (Second Place Winner in 2021)

Pierce Lilly, 9th Grade, DC International PCS, Ms. Kelly Custer, (Fifth Place Winner in 2020 and Honorable Mention in 2021 and 2018)  

Juliana Gallego Ortiz, 4th Grade, YuYing PCS, Malcolm Harvin-Conner

Serenitee Perry, 9th Grade, McKinley Technology HS, Linda Wallace

Claudia Ray, 4th Grade, Whittier Elementary, Ms. Rain Wallin

Eleanor Sarver, 5th Grade, Eaton Elementary, Leann Trowbridge

Jada Sills, 9th Grade, McKinley Technology HS, Ms. Linda Wallace

Naomi Stewart, 4th Grade, YuYing PCS, Malcolm Harvin-Conner

Ikedinachukwu Ukaegbu, 9th Grade, McKinley Tech HS, Ms. Linda Wallace (Honorable Mention in 2018)

Krysten Walker, 9th grade, McKinley Technology HS, Ms. Linda Wallace

Gernaye Jones-Warren, 6th Grade, Excel Academy, Ms. Caniya Ray

Ny’lah Williams, 4th grade, John Burroughs Elem., Ms. Katherine Close

Tyshawn Wooten, 8th Grade, Kramer Middle School, Ms. Ramble

Zion Young, 5th Grade, Patterson Elementary School, Ms. Tiffany Rose


Special Mentions

Isabella Baker, 4th Grade, Bancroft Elementary School, James Thomas

Daja Barbour, 6th Grade, Excel Academy, Ms. Ray Caniya

Genesis Corea Blanco,4th Grade, Bruce Monroe ES, Ms. Cervantes & Ms. Montiel

Merkayla Butler, 5th Grade, Patterson Elementary School, Ms. Tiffany Rose

Bryan Perez Abrego, 5th Grade, John Eaton ES, Angelo Parodi and Leann Trowbridge

Jae’Lyn Collins, 5th Grade, Patterson Elementary School, Ms. Tiffany Rose

Thembi Cousar, 4th Grade, John Burroughs ES, Ms. Katherine Dudkiewicz

Mylakhi Davis, 4th Grade, Langley Elementary School, Ms. Amanda Texeira

Sofia Santos Diaz, 5th Grade, Bancroft Elementary, Ms. Esther Amaya

Deonna Grant, 6th Grade, Excel Academy, Ms. Caniya Ray

Kimayah Hunter, 6th Grade, Excel Academy, Ms. Caniya Ray

DaRon Jones, 5th Grade, Tyler Elementary, Ms. Julianne Williams

James H. Kilbourn, 4th Grade, Yuying PCS, Malcolm Harvin-Conner

Roderick Lake, 8th Grade, Kramer Middle School, Ms. Ramble

Fiona Leavitt, 5th Grade, School Within School @Goding (SWS), Ms. Amy Wertheimer

Elijah Louis, 9th Grade, McKinley Tech HS, Ms. Linda Wallace

Arvell Mack, 5th Grade, Patterson Elementary, Ms. Tiffany Rose

Matthew McMillan, 6th Grade, Oyster Adams Elementary

Kate Osbourne, 4th Grade, Lafayette ES, Alison Dalton

Isabelle Pierre, 7th grade, MacFarland Middle School, Alexa Patsey

Alana Preston, 5th Grade, Whittier ES, Ms. Rain Wallin

Maleah Queen, 5th Grade, Tyler ES, Ms. Julianne Williams

Maggie Reyes-Gavilan, 4th Grade, Bancroft ES, Megan Luczak

Deneva Riley, 8th Grade, Kramer Middle School, Ms. Ramble

Zodielle Rosario,4th Grade, Langley ES, Amanda Texeira

Nazir Simmons, 9th Grade McKinley Tech HS, Ms. Linda Wallace

Benjamin Taransky, 5th Grade, Bruce Monroe, Amy Dinan (2021 Special Mention)

Adonay Teferi, 5th Grade, Takoma Elementary School, Ms. Hester

Lee Thomas, 9th Grade, McKinley Tech HS, Ms. Wallace

Sammera Thomas, 8th Grade, Kramer Middle School, Ms. Ramble

Luke Tomlinson, 4th Grade, Bancroft ES, Mr. Jake Thomas

Rahel Tseganeh, 7th Grade, Columbia Heights Education Campus

Aden Vasquez, 5th Grade, Tyler Elementary, Ms. Julianna Williams

Lena Voss, 4th Grade, Janney, Mr. Scott Gold

Luke Voss, 7th Grade, Alice Deal MS, Kareem Bond, (2021 Honorable Mention, 2020 Special Mention)