More than two dozen students were honored this week for their winning entries in Scottsdale’s annual “We the People” contest.
More than 110 parents, students, teachers, and administrators attended the in-person reception in honor of the participants in the commemoration of the September 17, 1797, signing of the United States Constitution.
“The We the People Constitution Contest promotes civic engagement, community reflection and understanding of the principles that guide our participation in our representative form of government,” said Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega. “We were especially impressed with this year’s creative entries from Scottsdale area students.”
Students could enter in three categories: 1) an art piece in any medium 2) an essay 3) an original song, video, or educational podcast. Submissions came from Cheyenne Traditional School, Cherokee and Kiva elementary schools, Desert Canyon and Mountainside middle schools, Chaparral, Coronado, Desert Mountain, and Saguaro high schools, and home-school students. Winners were selected by a panel of judges headed up by the Scottsdale branch of the American Association of University Women who use a scoring rubric and the mayor.
Here are the winners in the various categories and grades:
ART CATEGORY:
First and second grades:
o 1st place: Caleb Mauer
o 2nd place: Maddy Parra
o 3rd place: Aya Alieha
Third – fifth grades:
o 1st place: Éva Malizia
Sixth-eighth grades:
o 1st place: Aislyn Sheard
o 2nd place: Nick Schroeder
o 3rd place: Saarah Chegri
High school:
o 1st place: Brian Stevenson
o 2nd place: Sylvia Strelish
ESSAY CATEGORY:
First and second grades:
o 1st place: Skanda Madappa
Sixth-eighth grades:
o 1st place: Bryn Smith
o 2nd place: Brady Smith
o 3rd place: Jude Larsen
High school:
o 1st place: Jesmina deGuzman
o 2nd place: Noah Bassett
o 3rd place: Ira Parsons
PODCAST, SONG, AND VIDEO CATEGORY:
Sixth-eighth grades:
o 1st place: Audrey Figura
o 2nd place: Christian Bliss
o 3rd place: Addison Ward and Addison Corsi
High school:
o 1st place: Betzy Oxlaj Castaneda, Kimberly Lopez and Linda Lopez
o 2nd place: Sienna Warner