Twenty-three elementary and intermediate school students in the Westfield Public Schools received recognition for their submissions in an annual essay, poetry, and art contest sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Westfield.
The students - whose creative works addressed the organization’s 2024 theme of “It Starts with Me: Positive Peace and Social Justice for All” - were welcomed at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association’s 37th Annual Interfaith Service on January 15 at the First United Methodist Church.
The student award recipients are as follows:
Intermediate Schools
Essay
1st Place: Adriana McAllister, 7th Grade, Edison
2nd Place: William Di Bianca, 7th Grade, Edison
3rd Place: James Fu, 7th Grade, Edison
Poetry
1st Place: Arianna Desai, 8th Grade, Edison
2nd Place: Moss Paul, 8th Grade, Edison
3rd Place: Luka Barsky, 8th Grade, Edison
Art
1st Place: Noelle Boccagna, 7th Grade, Edison
1st Place: Cayenne Biggers, 6th Grade, Edison
2nd Place: Emilia Radlmann, 7th Grade, Roosevelt
2nd Place: Ella Russo, 7th Grade, Roosevelt
3rd Place: Sophia Pilachowski, 6th Grade, Roosevelt
3rd Place: Jaxen Kriss, 7th Grade, Roosevelt
Elementary Schools
Essay
1st Place: Taylor Goodman, 5th Grade, Tamaques
2nd Place: Allison Reilly, 5th Grade, Jefferson
3rd Place: Deven Lele, 5th Grade, Jefferson
Honorable Mention: Ethan Goldberg, 5th Grade, Jefferson
Honorable Mention: Tiffany Kinyanjui, 4th Grade, McKinley
Poetry
1st Place: Claudia Taormina, 5th Grade, Franklin
2nd Place: Marino Xanthos, 5th Grade, McKinley
3rd Place: Cameron Akselband, 4th Grade, McKinley
Art
1st Place: Raina Jariveja, 5th Grade, McKinley
2nd Place: Maeve Kavanagh, 5th Grade, Franklin
3rd Place: Leila Saad, 4th Grade, McKinley
Special Mention for First Graders at Tamaques School and their wonderful banner.