A number of Chicago Public Schools students from high schools throughout Chicago were awarded prizes ranging from college scholarships to laptop computers and digital cameras for essays they authored as part of Hispanic Heritage Month competition.
Essays centered on the topic: “What event or person in Hispanic history has most influenced or inspired you or modern society and why?”
Winners were recognized at a banquet Thursday at North-Grand High School, 4338 W. Wabansia Ave., which was emceed by NBC 5 television newscaster Alex Perez and featured Chicago Board of Education Member Alberto Carrero Jr. as keynote speaker.
The essay competition was open to all CPS 9th-through-12th graders; students from 27 high schools submitted more than 1,400 essays.
Judging for the selection of grand and second place prize winners was performed by judges from Roosevelt University, the American Bottling Company and officials from Chicago Public Schools.
Grand prize winners included:
- 9th grade, Estefanía, Whitney Young Magnet High School
- 10th grade, Kashif, Northside College Prep High School
- 11th grade, Karen, Curie Metropolitan High School
- 12th grade, Brenda, Spry Community Links High School
Grand prize winners were each awarded a laptop computer and printer, plus a $5,000 scholarship to Roosevelt University.
Second place winners included:
- 9th grade, Ashley, Perspectives Charter High School-Joslin Campus
- 10th grade, Joshua, Marine Military Academy High School
- 11th grade, Carlos, Taft High School
- 12th grade, Jasmine, Whitney Young Magnet High School
Second place winners each received a digital camera and printer.
Additionally, $500 cash prizes for teacher/staff professional development were won by Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, Carl Schurz, John Hancock College Prep and Spry Community Links High Schools for submitting the highest percentage of essays in the competition.
Teachers who monitored the prize-winning students each received a $100 gift card.
A specially themed ethnic meal was served at the banquet, at which grand prize winners read their essays. Special entertainment included a tango performance by the American Tango Institute.
The Hispanic Heritage Month Essay competition creates awareness of noteworthy events and persons in Hispanic history and offers exciting prizes for the winning students and their schools.
A similar essay competition will be held in February 2010 in honor of Black History Month.
About Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools serves 417,855 students in 675 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.
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