District Announces Hispanic Heritage Essay Winners

The School District of Palm Beach County recently announced the winners of the 2013 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest.

Students from multiple schools in grades six through 12 participated by answering the theme question in English or Spanish: “Who is a Latino/Hispanic individual that has inspired you and why?” “¿Qué persona latina/hispana te ha inspirado y por qué?”

The contest winners were:

• First place — Katie Muciño from Wellington High School received $200.

• Second place — Mycah Burke from Lake Worth Middle School received $100.

• Third place — Diana Shiling from the A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts received $50.

The following five finalists were also recognized and received a bag with books and school supplies: Julian Hooten, Boca Raton Middle School; Anthony Talalay, Palm Beach Central High School; Heather Hudson, Dreyfoos School of the Arts; Ruben Dario Garcia, Okeeheelee Middle School, and Fernando Avila, Okeeheelee Middle School.

A group of judges that included members of the community, administrators, teachers and professional translators had the difficult task of reading more than 180 essays.

The Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest was sponsored by Comcast for the third consecutive year.