May 1: 17th Annual Student “Writing for Literacy” Grand Award Ceremony.
On March 19, about 90 people filled the San Carlos Branch Library to hear the essays and congratulate this year’s local San Carlos winners of the Annual Writing for Literacy Library Essay Contest. This annual contest is open to all students, public, private, parochial and home schooled, in grades 4, 8 & 10, who attend a school served by the San Diego Public Library system. The San Carlos area schools participating this year submitted, 278 essays which were individually read and judged by Flora Hogins, Patty Woodall, and Barbara Woodall. All were impressed at the quality of the student essays. Each winner received Certificates of Recognition from State Superintendent of Public Instruction-California Department of Education Tom Torlakson–represented by Quintin Ramil; District 7 Councilman Scott Sherman–represented by Ryley Webb; and FSDPL. They will also receive gifts from SCFOL. This year’s local winners are Jasmine Broussard, Laura Burger, and Isabella Phillips from Kathryn Aufsesser’s 4th grade class at Benchley Weinberger; Amberly Tran, from Erin Keegan’s 4th grade class at Dailard; Mya Galloway and Morgan Hoffman from Alice Hire’s 4th grade Gage class; Miles Miller*, Caleb Munoz*, Joshua Tuzon from Jennifer Andrews 4th grade Green School class; and James Frerichs from Susan Maze’s 4th grade Green Elementary school class. This year, there were no 8th grade entries. Hailey Revello*, Faith Varon, Sofia Klopp Savino*, Ryan Simon, and Stan Tran, 10th graders at PHHS in Wendy Lange’s class, were also named local winners. Those with an * after their name will have their essay entered into the City-wide completion. Four Grand Prize winners at each grade level will be announced during a ceremony on May 1, 2014, at the new San Diego Central Library. Click on Essay Contest Grand Award Program, May 1, 2014, for program information. Top prize winners will each receive a monetary award and a laptop computer. One special prize of $500 will be awarded in memory of JACK and CAROLYN WINER for the best overall essay. This contest is co-sponsored by Friends of the San Diego Public Library, San Diego Public Library and the Unified School District Library Media Teachers, KPBS in conjunction with the “One Book, One San Diego” selection(s), and Computers 2 SD Kids (C2SDK). Topics included the current “One Book, One San Diego” book selection, “A Book That Inspired Me to Help Save the Earth….,” “If All the Books in the World Were About to Disappear….,” What Resources are Available to Me at My San Diego Public Library…”
The contest was started by San Carlos Branch Library supporter and past SCFOL and FSDPL President, Jack Winer, who envisioned a contest where our youth would become engaged in the literary arts. The first contest in 1997, received stong support from School Board Member Sue Braun and area assistant superintendent, Dr. Eloisa Cisneros. The entry forms and contest rules were developed with the collaboration of Librarians Wendy Gay (Lewis), Marian Day (Pershing) and Sharon Boyette (PHHS). It was sponsored by the San Carlos and Benjamin Branch Libraries and limited to the twelve local schools, grades 3 through 12, in the “Henry Cluster” (feeder schools to Patrick Henry High School). There were 145 entries and 31 finalists at all grade levels which brought over 200 parents, teaches and students to the awards ceremony held on May 20, 1997 at the San Carlos Branch Library. Lucia C. Barbu, an eleven year old, 4.0 GPA, 7th grader from Pershing Middle School was that year’s Grand Prize winner with an essay titled The Importance of Libraries to the Community.” Does anyone know where Lucia is now? We would love to get in touch with her. Essay topics were limited to four subjects: The Importance of Libraries; Heroes; Building a Better World; Getting Along in the Community. The first judges were the publisher of the Mission Times Courier, a retired San Diego Union editor, and a local active Real Estate agent. Thirty-one school winners were presented with Certificates of Recognition from the offices of U.S.Congressmen Brian Bilbray and Randy Cunningham, State Senator Dede Alpert, and Assemblywoman Susan Davis. City Councilmember Judy McCarty was the keynote speaker and also presented Certificates. In 1997, first and second place prizes were $100 and $50 savings bonds respectively. Engraved Cross pens were given to those with Honorable Mention awards. All entrants were awarded paperweights displaying the Lamp of Knowledge emblem, and the inscription: “Friends of the Library Essay Contest Finalist, 1997.” The result of everyone’s effort is the City-wide Essay Contest we have today. Jack Winer was also instrumental in the City’s purchase of the Jackson & Golfcrest corner lot on which we will build the new,25,000 sq. ft. San Carlos Branch Library and Community Center. [easingsliderpro id=”32″]
