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ESSAYS
Recent Winners and Essays
Pearl of Wisdom

“In first grade,... I POSITIVELY HATED READING. ... A school day felt like a million years. All I had to look forward to when I got home was homework, food, and sleep.... Nowadays I read so much I get in trouble for it. Seriously though, do you know a reader/writer who learned to love it by being punished. ... That though is how I learned to love to read from lockdown.”

Joel Battle wrote that as a 5th grader at Stevens Elementary School in 2004.

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Pearl of Wisdom

“ The biggest obstacle I face nearly each and every day is trying to express what is on my mind. ...Sometimes I wish I can be a simple girl who lives in a simple world with simple problems. But since I am not, I don’t know how to start telling people my problems...Instead of actually talking to someone, I convey my thoughts and feelings into poetry. ...I will gain more confidence in myself, as well as gaining more friends.”

Nguyet Nguyen wrote that as a 9th grader at Alice Deal JHS in 2004

The 21st annual
Celebration of Youth Essay Contest

Winners and honorable mentions in the 21st annual Celebration of Youth Essay Contest read their essays and received awards on May 22. Please click here to see who won and to read the First Place essays. We are extremely proud of all the students.

Watch Channel 8 coverage of the event:


About the Essay Contest

Global Harmony Through Personal Excellence, Inc. sponsors the Celebration of Youth essay contest, which is open to all 4th through 9th grade DC public school students. The essay themes encourage students to examine their thoughts and feelings around their personal experiences. Students are asked to write about their lives in their own voices. Prominent media figures and authors are the judges, and people across the city gather to hear the finalists read their prize-winning essays. 

We are proud that over the years a majority of the eligible schools have participated, and that students from all sections of the city have won. While good writing skills help significantly, many criteria are taken into consideration. Students who never thought they could write, much less win a contest, have won. The winners might have shown more depth, self reflection, compelling emotion, thoughtfulness, authenticity, or greater humor than the majority of entries. This is an essay contest that need not be restricted to English classes. Many teachers, including those of art, science, music, and math, have encouraged students to enter. Of course, students can enter independently. Each year, a few students discover the contest and enter on their own.

View winners and essays from 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.



Awards Ceremony 2005
2005 essay contest awards ceremony



Awards

Contest winners and honorable mentions receive cash awards along with certificates and congratulatory letters from well known figures. Click on a name to read past years' letters from Al and Tipper Gore, Laura Bush, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Marian Wright Edelman, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Jesse Jackson, Desmond Tutu, Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Wizard Juan Dixon and Mystic Chamique Holdsclaw, and the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Pearls of Wisdom

The "Pearls of Wisdom" that decorate the right hand side of these Web pages were taken from the essays of past honorable mentions.

 

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