Politics & Government
City Of Grand Rapids: City Announces Rosa Parks Essay Contest Winners
See the latest announcement from the City of Grand Rapids.
December 06, 2021
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Rosa Parks Sculpture Education Committee, in partnership with the City of Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission, the City of Grand Rapids Office of Equity and Engagement and the Community Relations Commission are proud to announce the winners of this year’s Rosa Parks Essay Contest.
The winning Grand Rapids public and private school students received their awards at a Dec. 2 ceremony (watch the awards video HERE). Each were honored for their essays on this year’s essay theme of “#HealingWithoutHate” expressing how they will practice acts of healing to combat injustices and inequities to keep the legacy of Rosa Parks alive.
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A panel of 19 community volunteers scored essay submissions and selected the winning entries. Prize money was donated as part of the Rosa Park Sculpture funding raising efforts and put in an endowment with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation for ongoing education on the life of Rosa Parks.
Rosa Parks Essay Contest Winners
High School Winners (11-12 Grade):
High School Winners (11-12 Grade):
A total of 39 qualified essays were received from local high school students, grades 11-12. The judges selected the following winners:
$500 “A Voice”
2nd Place Giomara Talledo Union High School
$300 “The Injustice of Inequality”
3rd Place Shekela Wortham Union High School
$200 “Change Starts With You”
Honorable Mention
$50 Aisha Mohamed Union High School
“Helping better our Community”
High School Winners (9-10 Grade):
A total of 154 qualified essays were received from local high school students, grades 9-10. The judges selected the following winners:
1st Place Dani Sadowski City High Middle School
$500 “Remember Rosa”
2nd Place Alexis Kloet City High Middle School
$300 “Ordinarily Remarkable”
3rd Place Ivy Maynard City High Middle School
$200 “Support, Communication, and Connection”
Honorable Mentions
$50 Maize J. Brower City High Middle School
“Where the Journey Continues”
$50 Kenaria Marie Drones City High Middle School
“Bandaid”
Middle School Winners (6-8 Grade):
A total of 121 qualified essays were received from local middle school students, grades 7-8. The judges selected the following winners:
1st Place Alea Fitzpatrick Westwood Middle School
$500 “Legacies Help us Lead”
2nd Place Demitrius Ryder Riverside Middle School
$300 “Violence Is NEVER the Answer”
3rd Place Premiere Sanders Riverside Middle School
$200 “Don’t Waste It!”
Honorable Mention
$50 Laniyah Mena Riverside Middle School
“Hate Doesn’t Work”
Commemorative Bus Ride Video
During the ceremony, Misti Stanton, diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Mercantile Bank and Shannon L. Harris, executive director of Our Community’s children – both members of the Rosa Parks Essay Contest Committee – hosted a commemorative bus ride video in honor of Rosa Parks. Their travels through the streets of Grand Rapids as a tribute to Rosa Parks each highlighted the notables who played a role in providing and advancing civil liberties for all. Watch the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/5XvGbr5nQi8.
This press release was produced by the City of Grand Rapids. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
