Essay Winners 2022

Nine Student Winners Announced for American Citizen Essay Contest
Posted on 11/09/2022
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The Carson City School District’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce nine student winners of the 21st Annual American Citizen Essay Contest. Each winner was recognized at the school board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 8, 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:

  • 1st Place - Hunter Budd, 5th grade, Seeliger Elementary School
  • 2nd Place - Imilia Gonzales, 5th grade, Seeliger Elementary School
  • 3rd Place - Dylan Hickox, 5th grade, Seeliger Elementary School

Middle School Level:

  • 1st Place - Landon Park, 8th grade, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School
  • 2nd Place - Grant Carman, 6th grade, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School
  • 3rd Place - Tristan Dries, 8th grade, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School

High School Level:

  • 1st Place - Hannah Budd, 9th grade, Carson High School
  • 2nd Place - Avery Coleman, 9th grade, Carson High School
  • 3rd Place - Gloria Dooley, 9th grade, Carson High School

The annual contest began in 2002 to honor the memory and events of September 11, 2001. There were 199 total entries (43 Elementary, 64 Middle School and 92 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:

"Patriot Day, the holiday in remembrance of September 11, 2001, is a national day of service. Why is service important for citizens? How do you or how could you serve in your community?"

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. 26, and completed essays were due Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. 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.