AUBURN - Black history has different meanings for everyone.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Taylor Ryan, 10, a fifth grader at Owasco Elementary School, looks at her essay on her favorite African American, Rosa Parks, hanging in the lobby of Auburn City Hall, Wednesday night.
Taylor Ryan, 10, a fifth grader at Owasco Elementary School, looks at her essay on her favorite African American, Rosa Parks, hanging in the lobby of Auburn City Hall, Wednesday night.
More than 380 students shared their own perspective on their favorite African Americans through an essay contest hosted by the Auburn Human Rights Commission.
“We have had wonderful participation with the essay contest,” said commission member Kent Brandstetter during the annual Favorite African American Essay Contest Award Ceremony held at Auburn City Hall, Wednesday evening. “It is good in that it really connects with writing and literacy within our schools.”
The contest is held annually during Black History Month and is not a school requirement.
Students in both public and parochial schools are invited to write about their favorite famous African American, or if they wish, the subject of the essay can be someone that they personally know.
“The students write these essays on a strictly volunteer basis,” said Auburn Human Rights Commission Secretary Anthony L DeCaro. “We get more and more entries each year.”
Although only a few of the essays were chosen for an award, Brandstetter said that all of the entrants were winners.
“We do recognize every essay,” he said. “They are all very good and well written.”
The essays can be about any African American that figures prominent within the student's life and many of them were written about Cayuga County's role in black history.
“Auburn holds a very prominent role in black history,” DeCaro said. “A very prominent role in the history of our country.”
Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, Jackie Robinson, and Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, and Larry Bell were among the many entries.
Following the reception, guests were treated to refreshments as they browsed the various essays that adorned the walls in the lobby at city hall.
“We have had wonderful participation with the essay contest,” said commission member Kent Brandstetter during the annual Favorite African American Essay Contest Award Ceremony held at Auburn City Hall, Wednesday evening. “It is good in that it really connects with writing and literacy within our schools.”
The contest is held annually during Black History Month and is not a school requirement.
Students in both public and parochial schools are invited to write about their favorite famous African American, or if they wish, the subject of the essay can be someone that they personally know.
“The students write these essays on a strictly volunteer basis,” said Auburn Human Rights Commission Secretary Anthony L DeCaro. “We get more and more entries each year.”
Although only a few of the essays were chosen for an award, Brandstetter said that all of the entrants were winners.
“We do recognize every essay,” he said. “They are all very good and well written.”
The essays can be about any African American that figures prominent within the student's life and many of them were written about Cayuga County's role in black history.
“Auburn holds a very prominent role in black history,” DeCaro said. “A very prominent role in the history of our country.”
Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, Jackie Robinson, and Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, and Larry Bell were among the many entries.
Following the reception, guests were treated to refreshments as they browsed the various essays that adorned the walls in the lobby at city hall.
