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Grand Rapids Reporter

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

City announces Rosa Parks Essay Contest winners

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City of Grand Rapids issued the following announcement on Dec 6.

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.

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):

A total of 39 qualified essays were received from local high school students, grades 11-12.  The judges selected the following winners:

1st Place           Ashley Garrido-Tapia                                                    Union High School

$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.

Original source can be found here.

Source: City of Grand Rapids

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