hispanic heritage essay contest 2021

Winners of the Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest pay tribute to their heroes

Sept. 27, 2021 – A public servant who paved the way for the creation of the Acosta Bridge. 

A pulmonary care specialist who was one of the first doctors in Florida to successfully treat a COVID-19 patient.

And a grandfather, who left Puerto Rico at the age of 2, traveled the world, and went on to become the Director of the Peace Corps in Colombia and Ghana.

These are the heroes who were celebrated by the three student winners of the district’s Hispanic Heritage Essay. Sponsored by the Jaguars Foundation, the contest is meant to honor the impact Hispanic-Americans have made locally in Jacksonville.

The three winners were Grace Gonzalez of Pine Forest Elementary School; Ryleigh Harris of Landon Middle School; and Avi Patel of Stanton

Each student was recognized at a special ceremony on Sept. 24 at the Cummer Museum. There they had a chance to read their essays and publicly share how much their heroes mean to them.

Gonzalez, a fifth grader, wrote an essay titled “My Papa, My Hero” about her grandfather, Wilfredo Gonzalez, who was born in San Juan and realized through his world travels that he wanted to help people. Earning a degree in sociology, he went on to oversee Peace Corps operations in Colombia and then Ghana.

“In everything my Papa does,  he looks for ways to help others,” and  he  never does it so that he will get anything in return,” wrote Gonzalez. “He just has a very giving heart  and always wants to  help others  make their dreams  come  true.   He inspires me and encourages me to do the same things  in  my  life. When I  grow up, I want to be a  teacher  so  that I  can  help  others,  especially  kids, be the best they  can be just like my Papa  has  always  done  for others. My Papa is  my  hero.”

Harris, a sixth grader, wrote about Dr. Danny Pulido, a local physician specializing in pulmonary and critical care. His father emigrated from Cuba in 1960s and began a life in Jacksonville. Harris writes that Pulido started his medical school journey at the University of Costa Rico and completed it at the University of Florida where he studied internal medicine and pulmonology.  As a doctor who works to combat COVID-19 in the community, Pulido believes in integrity and teamwork.

“Dr. Danny thinks that the most important quality of a doctor is honesty,” wrote Harris. “He believes that you should treat every patient ‘like they are your mom or dad.’”

Avi Patel, a senior, wrote about St. Elmo William Acosta, who served as a city councilman in Jacksonville during the early twentieth century and worked to improve the condition of roads and sidewalks in the city, including the development of a paved road from Jacksonville to Jacksonville Beach. His most famous achievement, writes Patel, was the construction of the Acosta Bridge.  

“Prior to its development, the city  lacked  a  reliable  connection  between  the  North  and the  South,  ften  taking nearly  a half  an  hour  via ferry,” wrote Patel. “Yet, after 17  years  of  daily  lobbying,  toiling,  and  spending  over $6,000 out of his own  pocket,  Acosta  achieved  the  difficult  feat  of  constructing the St. Johns  River Bridge, significantly  reducing  travel  time  from  the two  banks.”

The Hispanic Heritage Essay contest is hosted annually by the district’s ESOL Department. This year, it was sponsored by the Jaguars Foundation, which provided prizes to each of the winners including tickets to this Sunday’s Jaguars vs. Cardinals game.

Click on the links below to read the winning essays:

• Grace Gonzalez: “My Papa, My Hero”
• Ryleigh Harris: “Dr. Danny Pulido – A Local Hero”
• Avi Patel: “St. Elmo W. Acosta: Bridging the Two Divisions of Jacksonville”

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Florida First Lady announces Hispanic heritage month essay contest

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(WCJB) - Florida students have a chance at winning a 4-year college scholarship by writing an essay.

Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest.

It’s open to all students in grades four through twelve.

Each student can submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme, which is “celebrating Hispanic-American community leaders and champions.”

One winner each will be chosen from elementary school, middle school, and high school.

Entries are due October 11th.

To enter the contest, click HERE.

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2021 Hispanic Heritage Month Art and Essay Contest

September 15 , 2021 - october 16 , 2021.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis invite all Florida students to participate in the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month art and essay contests with the theme of “Celebrating Hispanic-American Community Leaders and Champions.” T he deadline for all submissions is 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Monday, October 11, 2021 . 

Students in grades K-3 have a chance to win a cash prize by submitting their original artwork, and students in grades 4-12 can earn a 4-year Florida Prepaid Scholarship through the essay contest. In addition, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators in elementary, middle and high schools for the Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. 

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15-October 15, 2021, and is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about the countless contributions of Hispanic Americans in our state’s history.

To learn more about Florida’s rich history of contributions by Hispanic-Americans and for more information about the art, essay and educator contests, please visit www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com .

Permalink: https://madison.k12.fl.us/2021/9/2021-hispanic-heritage-month-art-and-essay-contest

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Broward College Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

• 23 September 2021 | 1 min read

More than 600,000 residents, or 31 percent of Broward County’s total population, are Hispanic. And just like our thriving county, Hispanics represent more than  37 percent of the Broward College student body, the largest ethnic group among our students.

Broward College is proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution, a designation awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to institutions whose full-time undergraduate enrollment is at least 25 percent, Hispanic students. Every winter and spring semester, we witness the success stories of many Hispanic students who walk the stage during graduation. We are proud to help them and those who work at the College celebrate their heritage during National Hispanic Heritage Month (NHHM).

Honoring their Contributions

Building upon President Lyndon B. Johnson’s original proclamation in 1968 that designated the week of September 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Week, President Ronald Reagan extended the celebration to last an entire month through October 15. The September 15 start acknowledges the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador.

With expanded on-campus classes and in-person services this fall, we can come together to honor the history, contributions, achievements, and impact Hispanic and Latino culture has had on our nation, in Florida and our Broward College community.

Participate in Activities

At Broward College, Student Life will host a series of events and gatherings, including movies, panel discussions, music, and literature such as Songs of Freedom on September 30, Afro-Latino: When Cultures Collide on October 5, and Before We Were Called Hispanics on October 7, to name a few. Students can access these events online via Zoom. The closing event to the celebrations, Movie Night: Coco, will be hosted on the Judson A. Samuels South campus by the lake.

Additionally, a Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest will take place throughout the month for a chance to win tickets to Halloween Horror Nights. Students may choose one of two writing prompts and must complete their entry by October 8, 2021. Winners will be notified via email a few days later. Additional contest info is available here .

For a complete list of events, check out this flyer .

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Hispanic Heritage essay contest winners…

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Hispanic heritage essay contest winners announced in pottstown, both are pottstown high school students.

The winners are Yasmin Paez and Miranda Pineda. Both attend Pottstown High School.

Each winner received $100. Based on the national theme set by the Washington, D.C., National Council of Hispanic Employment Managers, the topic for the 2021-2022 contest was “Esperanza” or “Hope” in English.

In “A Hopeful Potluck Dinner,” Paez described dinner with plates of food reflecting the home countries and cultures of her parents.

A freshman, Pineda submitted a profound essay entitled, “Growing Up Different.” Peneda described her self-awareness being different from her peers and her struggle to overcome that difference.

Located at 301 King St., Pottstown, Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos (CCLU) bridges American and Latino cultures in the greater Pottstown Area, and connects families with needed educational, recreational, legal and health services. CCLU will hold the 2022-2023 Essay Contest beginning in September during Hispanic Heritage Month.  Details will be forthcoming.

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Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest

Did you know that 30% of our Associate of Science in Nursing students identify as Latinx?  So that’s plenty of you to write an essay for a chance to win tickets to Halloween Horror Nights!

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Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Host Contest Winners at Governor’s Mansion

Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. and Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo joins Governor Ron DeSantis to recognize student and educator winners

Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month student and educator contest winners. Contest winners were invited to the Florida Governor’s Mansion where they received prizes and were recognized for their art, essays and educational contributions. This year, students wrote essays and created art that reflected the theme  “Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heroes and Their Contributions to Freedom.”  Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized and celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15.   “Florida has extensive Hispanic heritage, and many Hispanic Floridians have played a significant role in defending freedom and liberty,”  said Governor Ron DeSantis.  “We are proud to teach students about their important contributions and the role they have played in preserving freedom.”    “Hispanic Floridians have played a vital role in the history of our great state and continue to have a tremendous impact,”  said First Lady Casey DeSantis.  “This year’s theme honored the contributions Hispanic Floridians have made in ensuring that Florida and the United States continue to be a beacon of freedom for the rest of the world and I am proud of the students who participated in this year’s contest.”   “As Florida’s first Hispanic female Lieutenant Governor, I believe it is important to recognize the ideals and values that bind us together as Floridians and Americans,”  said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez.  “ It is a privilege to work with our Governor and First Lady to ensure our students are learning about the positive contributions of Hispanics from all walks of life. So many leaders throughout our state’s history have made great strides to protect and defend freedom. This year’s participants were able to learn about Hispanic Floridians who have worked to secure a better future for the generations to come. I congratulate every one of this year’s winners.”   “Congratulations to the educators recognized and the art and essay contest winners celebrated for their outstanding work honoring the remarkable accomplishments of the Hispanic community in Florida,”  said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr.  “As a Hispanic Floridian, it was heartwarming to learn about the many Hispanic Floridians who impacted our communities through their heroism and contributions to freedom.”   “We are proud to honor the great and varied contributions and influences of the Hispanic culture, as well as educating our future generations on the value of community and service to others,”  said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo . “Congratulations to all the art, essay and educator winners of this year’s contest.”     Student Art Contest Students in kindergarten through third grade were invited to submit original artworks for the contest. Four art contest winners were chosen, and each received a $100 gift card for school supplies and a one-year pass to Florida state parks. The winners of the student art contest are:

• Norah Hall,  Grade 5, James E. Plew Elementary School, Okaloosa County
• Angelica Urena , Grade 4, Sandpiper Elementary School, Broward County
• Camila Romero , Grade 6, Alice B. Landrum Middle School, St. Johns County
• Joseph Norman , Grade 7, Oakleaf Junior High School, Clay County
• Jasmyn Cabral , Grade 12, Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School, Polk County
• Bella Jiron , Grade 12, School for Advanced Studies, Miami-Dade County

Excellence in Education Award The First Lady announced the four winners for the Excellence in Education Award Contest. The winners were selected from nominations sent in by principals, teachers, parents or guardians, and students. Excellence in Education Award winners received a $2,500 monetary recognition provided by Volunteer Florida. The Excellence in Education Award winners are:

• Christopher Morales,  who teaches biology to 9 th  and 10 th  graders at Fort Myers High School in Lee County.
• Fabiola Galarraga-Cole,  who teaches Spanish at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School in Collier County.
• Nathalia Camacho Alzate,  who teaches Spanish at Cooper City High Schol in Broward County.
• Rosario Silva (Del Valle),  who teaches Spanish to grades 7 through 12 at Doral Academy Charter Middle/High School in Miami-Dade County.

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