PRESENTATION
Subject:
title
• Black History Month Essay and Poster Contest Awards
end
Background:
Department Comment/Recommendation:
Meeting Action Detail:
Town Council Meeting 03/08/2023
File #: 23-1307-Version: 1
Type: Presentation General Discussion
Title: 2023 Black History Month Essay and Poster Contest Awards
Action: Received
Minute Note:
Chairman Dombrowski turned the floor over to Community Relations Committee Chairman Councilor Paul and Councilor Rodriguez to present the awards for the 2023 Black History Essay and Poster Contest.
Councilor Rodriguez provided some background explaining this was the second year the Black History Month Activity was held noting that it involved an Essay Contest for the High School and Middle School Students and a Poster Contest for the Elementary School Students. She stated the Program was open to all students in Ledyard including Magnet School Students and Home School Students. She noted the Contests were voluntary and was held from February 1 - February 22, 2023. She thanked the Contest Judges for participating in the process noting that some of the Judges were present this evening to award the prizes. She introduced the Judges as follows: Library Commission Member Mr. Ralf Hightower, Police Sergeant McKinney, who was being represented this evening by Chief Rich and herself. Unfortunately, she stated no entries were submitted for the High School level essay contest.
Councilor Rodriguez continued by thanking all who participated in the Program and for attending tonight’s Town Council meeting. She stated they looked forward to hosting the Black History Month Poster and Essay Contest because of the learning experience. She stated Black History was part of American History, and she stated that she was humbled and grateful for the work the students did in writing their essays, noting that they were inspirational, educational and sincere. She stated the Judges were impressed by the essays noting that it was hard to find just one winner, and therefore, they had a couple of ties this year. She stated the students, and their parents should be proud of their accomplishments.
Councilor Rodriguez invited Mayor Allyn, III, and the Judges to join her in presenting the prizes as follows:
Ledyard Middle School (Essay Contest)
ü First Place (Tie) $100.00 - Kharma Noel and Rylee Hope
ü Second Place (Tie) $50.00- Hazel Saunders and Evangelos O’Hanlon
ü Third Place (Tie) $25.00 - Riccio Hope and Addison Lacosse
ü Honorable Mention - Bryce Griffin and Sydney Loftus
Councilor Rodriguez stated instead of writing an essay Sydney Loftus wrote a very touching poem; and that the Judges agreed to award her an Honorable Mention. Councilor Rodriguez invited Sydney to read the poem she wrote, noting that she hoped to see Sydney’s poem published someday.
Ms. Sydney Loftus read her poem as follows:
What does Black history month mean to me?
A poem by: Sydney Loftus
I think it's a time of month for all people to see
To open the world of curiosity
To learn, to teach
On what this holiday month means
It's important to know all the people who risked their lives For the greatness, For the time
I remember what was given to me
Frederick Douglass
Harriet Tubman
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Rosa Parks
George Washington Carver
Just to name a few
These aren't just some people out of the blue
We all remember what we can be
And that is what Black history month means to me
Councilor Rodriguez stated the Poster Contest Winners were announced at their Schools earlier today noting the winners were as follows:
Grades K-2 - Poster Contest
ü First Place - Anika Winterstenn - 2nd Grade - Gallup Hill School- Ms. Florez
ü Second Place - Don Sebastian - 2nd Grade - Gallup Hill School - Ms. Florez
ü Third Place - Pauline Duller - 2nd Grade - Gallup Hill School - Ms. Florez
Grades 3-5 - Poster Contest
ü First Place -Kenzie Aldana - 4th Grade - Juliet W. Long School - 4th Grade - Mrs. Craig
ü First Place - Elyza Covey - 5th Grade - Gallup Hill School - Mrs. Conger
ü Second Place - Lily Dozier - 3rd Grade - Gallup Hill School - Mrs. Torchia
ü Second Place - Brynn Kemble - 5th Grade - Gallup Hill School - Mrs. Teskey
ü Third Place - Vivianna Yepes - 3rd Grade - Gallup Hill School - Mrs. Torchia
Councilor Rodriguez thanked all the students who participated in the contest, Town Council Chairman Dombrowski, the Community Relations Committee, and the Judges for their involvement in the Black History Month Contest.
Chairman Dombrowski stated on behalf of the Town Council he would like to thank all those who participated in the Black History Month Contest, and he congratulated all the winners. He stated it was great to see all the talented young people Ledyard has and he encouraged them to keep up the good work. He concluded by thanking the Community Relations Committee and Councilor Rodriguez for their work and time involved in planning and hosting the Black History Month Essay and Poster Contest.