Essay Winners

Nine Student Winners Announced for American Citizen Essay Contest
Posted on 12/02/2021
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The Carson City School District’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce nine student winners of the 20th Annual American Citizen Essay Contest. Each winner was recognized at the school board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 23, and received the following cash prizes: First Place: $80, Second Place: $30 and Third Place: $15.

There were 193 total entries (81 Elementary, 18 Middle School and 94 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:

“Twenty years ago on September 11, 2021, many people became heroes in the face of tragedy. As we honor the 20th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, pick someone in your life who you feel is a hero and describe why.”

Grade level winners include the following.

Elementary School Level:

  • 1st Place – Lillian Marler, 5th grade, Empire Elementary School
  • 2nd Place – Jessica Hagen, 5th grade, Seeliger Elementary School
  • 3rd Place – Colin Schwartz, 5th grade, Mark Twain Elementary School

Middle School Level:

  • 1st Place – Madeline Lyons, 8th grade, Bethlehem Lutheran School
  • 2nd Place – Greyson Ricks, 8th grade, Bethlehem Lutheran School
  • 3rd Place – Grace Emery, 6th grade, Bethlehem Lutheran School

High School Level:

  • 1st Place – Jax Whatley, 9th grade, Carson High School
  • 2nd Place – Eva Lindbloom, 9th grade, Carson High School
  • 3rd Place – Alexandra Nerska, 9th grade, Carson High School

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 Monday, Sept. 20, and completed essays were due Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. 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. Included here are the first-place winning essays for Elementary, Middle and High School Levels.