Six Hommocks Middle School students were honored by the Rotary Club of Larchmont as winners of the 2024 Essay Contest during its May 17th luncheon at the Larchmont Yacht Club. Club member Marian White has led the effort for the last 22 years, coordinating in September with the Hommocks English Department to determine a relevant topic and then selecting Rotarian essay judges to determine the winners. Each May, families, teachers, Rotarians and special guests have gathered to celebrate the most talented of the young writers.
For this year’s topic, students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades were asked to write about the times they felt in which they did not belong and whether they could help others to feel more like they belonged. More than 100 students entered and three Rotary Club members (Michael Gedigk, Alan Sloate and Alex Vo) judged the entries on various criteria such as creativity, expression and grammar. Marian White thanked the teachers of the English Department for the effort each one has put in over the years encouraging their students to enter the contest.
Sixth grade winners were: Sofia Lederman and Luis Gonzalez Lopez
Seventh grade winners were: Katerina Stoichkov and Michal Vaculin
Eighth grade winners were: Olivia Gourevitch and Hadley Hall
Each student read his/her entry to the audience. Marian White awarded each student with a gift certificate for J Anderson Books in Larchmont. Club Treasurer Marion Anderson presented each student with four award certificates from the offices of Assemblyman Steve Otis, Senator Shelly Mayer, County Legislator Catherine Parker and the Larchmont Rotary.
Hommocks Principal Chris Borsari and English teacher Deb Sampayo thanked the Rotary Club for continuing to hold the contest and the students for their hard work and participation. Club President Lester Nathan concluded the meeting.
More pictures from this event can be viewed in a photo album on this site by clicking here.