ARLINGTON CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES 2023 SHERI CAPEHART ANIMAL ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS
Excitement was in the air at Arlington ’ s City Center Plaza as winners of the 2023 Sheri Capehart Animal Essay Contest were announced at the evening council meeting on March 21 , 2023 . Mayor Pro Tempore Helen Moise congratulated students as they received their awards .
The evening began with a reception at the Downtown Library where the winning students enjoyed personalized cookies and punch with their family , friends and teachers , and met the contest ’ s founder , Sheri Capehart , members of City Council and other officials celebrating their success .
Mary Moore Elementary school led with the most winners this year , with seven of the`12 winning essays penned by their students . All of the Mary Moore winners are students of Amanda Vu , gifted and talented teacher at Mary Moore .
Since 2019 , sixth grade students in Cindy Rohan ’ s classes at Wood Elementary have dominated the winnings , earning 14 of the 15 titles for sixth graders .
Jeremiah Hart , first place winner for third grade is home-schooled by his mom and dad , the respective teacher and principal of their Ambleside Academy .
Congratulations to the winners – and to all students and teachers that participate in the essay contest each year . Tremendous thought and creativity go into writing the essays , making it a challenge to narrow the selection down to 12 final winning essays .
The contest , implemented in 2001 , was designed to promote responsible pet ownership and creative writing and is open to students who reside inside Arlington ’ s city limits that attend public , private , charter , or home school . Visit the essay contest website to learn more about the contest and its winners .
Third Grade
Essay Topic : If you could make up a holiday for animals , what holiday would it be and how would you celebrate it ?
First Place – Jeremiah Hart , Homeschool – Ambleside Academy
Second Place – Kate Fulton Mary Moore Elementary
Third Place – Abby Christiansen Mary Moore Elementary
Fourth Grade
Essay Topic : How do you think animals communicate with people ?
First Place – Lucy Tolleson Duff Elementary
Second Place – Elias Teeter Mary Moore Elementary
Third Place – Sila Grotefend Mary Moore Elementary
Fifth Grade
Essay Topic : If you could make one rule for the world to follow about animals and everyone had to follow it ... what would that rule be ?
First Place – Naila Resendiz Mary Moore Elementary
Second Place – Natalie Reddick Mary Moore Elementary
Third Place – Aeron Murphy Mary Moore Elementary
Sixth Grade
Essay Topic : In 2060 how will animal shelters be different than they are today ?
First Place – Gracie Harvey Wood Elementary
Second Place – Bella Guzman Wood Elementary
Third Place – Logan McConnell Wood Elementary