For this year’s Military Appreciation Day, The Greater Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce and the City of Homestead called on students from all over South Florida to participate in an art and essay student contest honoring Veterans and active Military members. Over one hundred entries were submitted for the contest and were exhibited at the Military Appreciation Day event on Saturday, May 25th at the Historic Downtown Homestead. The winners of the student art and essay contest were announced at the event and received medals and cash prizes for their works on the meaning of “freedom and honoring services.”
Councilman Stephen R. Shelley, Liaison to the Military Affairs Committee, and Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rosa Brito, announced the winners of the contest from the stage of Losner Park during the Memorial Weekend event. Members of the Mayor’s Youth Council were also on stage to announce the winners along with Homestead Education Committee members, Councilman Elvis R. Maldonado, Ms. Erzsebet Horvath representing Miami-Dade County School Board member Dr. Larry Feldman, and Ms. Alicia Corrales Lead Magnet Teacher at Air Base Elementary.
The winners of the Art category were as follows:
Elementary (K-2)
First Place: Corey Williams of Florida City Elementary, 2nd grade
Second Place: Farzana Khan of Air Base Elementary, 2nd grade
Third Place: Seth Ardon of Air Base Elementary, 1st grade
Elementary (grades 3-5)
First Place: Rachel Heurtelou of Cutler Ridge Elementary, 4th grade
Second Place: Mirkes Gabriel of Florida City Elementary, 5th grade
Third Place: Gabrella Carbot of Assurant Satellite Learning Center, 5th grade
Middle School (grades 6-8)
First Place: Sarah Hammer of Southwood Middle School, 8th grade
Second Place: Kelly Barraso of Mandarin Lakes K-8, 6th grade
Third Place: Talhaa Akhtar of Arthur Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts, 7th grade
Senior High School (grades 9-12)
First Place: Mario Parker of South Dade High School, 12th grade
Second Place: Anrew Giebert of South Dade High School, 12th grade
Third Place: Karen Sleeper who is home schooled, 9th grade
The winners of the Essay category were as follows:
Middle School (grades 6-8)
First Place: Jara Cummings of Keys Gate Charter School, 7th grade
Second Place: Melanie Soto of Keys Gate Charter School, 7th grade
Third Place: Maria Guerrero of Campbell Drive Middle School, 8th grade
Senior High School (grades 9-12)
First Place: Joshua Garcia of Felix Varela High Schools/Navy ROTC program, 11th grade
Second Place: Juan Alvarez of Felix Varela High Schools/Navy ROTC program, 10th grade
Third Place: Dannyqua S. Ali of Felix Varela High Schools/Navy ROTC program, 12th grade
