PORT ANGELES — The City Council honored last week the 25 winners of the annual Race Equality Essay Contest, which drew 844 essays from Port Angeles School District students.
Winners were honored by the Port Angeles City Council and Superintendent Jane Pryne on Tuesday.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of racial equality was the focal point for the contest.
Students were given various prompts, which ranged in difficulty level according to grade level.
Kindergartners were asked to draw a picture of themselves with King and write what they would say to him.
First-graders were told to talk about how they could make their schools more fair, while second-graders were to focus on making their schools more peaceful and third-graders on how to inspire others to do what is right.
Fourth-grade students wrote about going back in time to meet King.
Fifth-graders looked at ways people could do something to change the world so it would be a better place.
Sixth-grade students chose one quote from King and told why it was important to them.
Seventh- and eighth-graders were told to emulate King by writing a persuasive essay about a school or community problem and what people should do to solve it.
Judges were Fred Ambriz, Sandra Biasell, Tracey Hosselkus, Cindy Kelly, Lt. Keidi Niemann, Melissa Robbins, Danielle Schimschal, Brittany Thompson and Margaret Velez.
No winners were chosen in the seventh grade.
This year’s winners, their schools and teachers:
Eighth grade
■ First place — Lauren Lunt, Stevens Middle School, teacher Darren Mills.
■ Second place — Nikaila Price, Stevens Middle, teacher Laurie Day.
■ Third place — Noah McGoff, Stevens Middle, teacher Day.
Sixth grade
■ First place — Charlotte Hertel, Franklin Elementary School, teachers Maria Keys and Heather Chapman.
■ Second place — Stuart Koehler, Jefferson Elementary School, teacher Leah Bauman.
■ Third place — Kyler Tourbin, Roosevelt Elementary School with teacher Bill Prorok, and Akira Connary, Jefferson Elementary with Bauman as teacher.
Fifth grade
■ First place — Korin Urtezuela, Hamilton Elementary School, teacher George Kheriaty.
■ Second place — Anna Gentry, Franklin Elementary, teacher Claire Rausch.
■ Third place — Arielle Barros, Dry Creek Elementary School, teacher Patricia Schromen.
Fourth grade
■ First place — Jason Kibe Jr., Jefferson Elementary, teacher Jeanne Wolfley.
■ Second place — Hannah Reetz, Roosevelt Elementary, teacher Mary O’Kief.
■ Third place — Caleb Corey, Jefferson Elementary, teacher Sue-Ellen Kraft.
Third grade
■ First place — Hannah Basden, Roosevelt Elementary, teacher Craig Chambers.
■ Second place — Tyler Diltz, Roosevelt Elementary, teacher Paula Epstein.
■ Third place — Lily Lauzon, Hamilton Elementary, teacher Jan Collins.
Second grade
■ First place — Zane Glassock, Franklin Elementary, teacher Stephanie Gochnour.
■ Second place — Broden Beckstrom, Roosevelt Elementary, teacher Sharon Fritschler.
■ Third place — Bryton Amsdill, Hamilton Elementary, teacher Kathleen Schmidt.
First grade
■ First place — Ezra Townsend, Hamilton Elementary, teacher Michelle Weber.
■ Second place — Owen Oakes, Franklin Elementary, teacher Suzanne Keegan.
■ Third place — Teddy Chaney, Franklin, teacher Debbie Halsey.
Kindergarten
■ First place — Elena Gonzalez, Hamilton Elementary, teacher Jennifer Mills.
■ Second place — Tayven Walker, Franklin Elementary, teacher Jessica Baccus.
■ Third place — Kaycee Campbell, Franklin Elementary, teacher Pam Beard.
