Carson City School District student winners announced for American Citizen Essay Contest
The Carson City School District’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce nine student winners of the 23rd Annual American Citizen Essay Contest. Each winner was recognized at the school board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12, 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 - 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 September 11, 2001. There were 154 total entries (53 Elementary, 95 Middle School and 6 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 following:
“The Pledge of Allegiance mentions that our nation is indivisible. Considering divisions within our society today, what steps can you take to create unity?”
Any public, charter, private or home-schooled student in Carson City was able to participate in the contest. Essays were no longer than five (5) pages but could be as short as the student desired. The essay could also have been handwritten or typed.
The contest was announced Thursday, Sept. 4, and completed essays were due Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. The first page of the essay included the student’s name (first and last), his or her age, grade, telephone number, teacher’s name and school.
Not pictured: Alexis La Fountain-Olney of Carson High School.