The Carson City School Board announced nine student winners of the 23rd annual American Citizen Essay Contest Tuesday. Pictured from left, back row, are Trustees Joe Cacioppo, Lupe Ramirez, Matt Clapham, Joe Varner and Laural Crossman. Student essay contest winners, from left, front row, include Fiori Maiello, Savanna Jones, Poppy Hebb, Neva Mellow, Noah Smit, Joy Ponczoch, Navneet Gill and Jacklyn Sullivan.
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The Carson City School District Board of Trustees named nine student winners of the 23rd annual American Citizen Essay Contest. Each winner was recognized at the school board meeting Tuesday and received $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $30 for third place. Grade level winners include the following.
Elementary School Level:
First Place - Joy Ponczoch, fifth grade, Fritsch Elementary School
Second Place - Navneet Gill, fifth grade, Fristch Elementary School
Third Place - Jacklyn Sullivan, fifth grade, Mark Twain Elementary School
Middle School Level:
First Place - Fiori Maiello, seventh grade, Carson Middle School
Second Place - Poppy Hebb, seventh grade, Carson Middle School
Third Place - Savanna Jones, seventh grade, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School
High School Level:
First Place - Neva Mellow, 12th grade, Carson High School
Second Place - Noah Smit, 10th grade, Sierra Lutheran High School
Third Place - Alexis La Fountain-Olney, 10th grade, Carson High School
The annual contest began in 2002 to honor the memory and events of Sept. 11, 2001. There were 154 entries (53 elementary, 95 middle and six high school). Essays were judged within each grade level as they followed adherence to the topic, their quality of writing and their originality of thought. The topic this year was:
“The Pledge of Allegiance mentions that our nation is indivisible. Considering divisions within our society today, what steps can you take to create unity?”