May 2012 Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest Winners Announced
The Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest Committee is proud to announce the winners of this year’s contest.
First Place: Ally Rosenblum, A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, 10th grade
Second Place: Dolores Sary Blanc, Glades Central High School, 12th grade
Third Place: Sophie Press, A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, 9th grade
Ally Rosenblum, first place winner, demonstrated outstanding thinking and writing skills in her composition, excelling in content, originality, grammar, and spelling, according to the judging committee members comprised of district administrators and teachers. The essay topic was: “Considering the case of Haiti as an example, discuss the reasons why international aid from rich countries should or should not be given to poor countries.” Ally brilliantly expressed her thoughts on why help should be given to poor countries and how the help should be managed.
Dolores Sary Blanc, from Glades Central High School and Sophie Press, from A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, who respectively won second and third place, are also excellent students whose behavior and academic performance are praised by their teachers.
The Palm Beach County essay contest for high school students began in 2004 in commemoration of May as Haitian Heritage Month. Its goal is to motivate students to practice their thinking and writing skills in order to increase their achievement level in high stakes assessments like the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), to increase their self-esteem by promoting their history and culture while asking them to conduct historical research about their country, their people and their contributions to the history of the world.
The winners will be recognized during the School Board meeting on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 5:00 PM, at the Fulton-Holland Educational Services Center, 3300 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach. The first place winner will receive an award certificate along with a check for $250.00. The second place winner will receive a certificate and $150.00, and the third place winner a certificate and $100.00.
The winners of the essay contest will also be featured at an author talk event organized by the School District of Palm Beach County in collaboration with the Palm Beach County Library System at the Okeechobee Library located at 5689 Okeechobee Blvd., Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 6:00 PM, where they will be talking about their essays.
The Essay Contest was sponsored by Gaskov Clergé Foundation, a nonprofit and philanthropic organization established to promote health and education in Haiti and the United States.
For more information about the Haitian Heritage Month Celebration in the School District of Palm Beach County, visit http://www.palmbeachschools.org/pao/creole/MwaEritajAyisyen2012.asp or call Bito David, Public Affairs Specialist, at (561) 963-3820 or email david@palmbeach.k12.fl.us.
