Building on character with characters
- Tracey Weiss
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
WRITTEN BY Tracey Weiss PHOTOS BY Tracey Weiss
Mayor’s Youth Council oversees an essay contest to celebrate the semi-quincentennial
Even in the days of social media, video games and streaming shows and movies, this student essay contest was a huge success.
With entries numbering many, members of the town’s Mayor’s Youth Council had their hands full judging them all to determine winners.
The Town of West Hartford Mayor’s Youth Council and West Hartford Public Library joined forces to invite students in grades 6-12 to participate in the “WeHa the People Student Essay Writing Contest,” in honor of the 250th birthday of the United States.
The question the essay contest asked was simple and direct: “Which local figure has had an important impact on shaping the West Hartford we know today? Describe how this person influenced the community in their time and explain how their legacy still affects life in West Hartford today or connects to your own experiences.”
According to contest rules, subjects could come from a number of sources, including street names, parks, plaques, or buildings, diverse voices, politicians, manufacturers or other sources.
Eligibility included living in town and/or going to a public or private school in West Hartford. Essays had to be researched and cited and submitted by April 4.
Three winners in each category will receive a cash prize. First place winners will get $500; second place $250; and third place, $100. Recipients of the prizes will be announced at Celebrate! West Hartford in early June, and according to Kari Karp, Teen Services Librarian for the West Hartford Public Library and the liaison to the Mayor’s Youth Council, the winners of the essay contest will be bound in a book and placed in the history room at Noah Webster Library for the public to enjoy.
MYC member Sebastian Latif, a sophomore, said “people were talking about the event. It’s really had a positive impact.”
According to Anaya Lal, “kids have gone to the library to research.”
Karp said the council was initially contacted by the town to see if the Mayor’s council was interested in hosting the contest. The answer was a definitive yes.
Decisions on how to set up the contest had to be decided. “We had to make a group decision about how to use AI in creating the essay,” said Allison Chen.
In the end, after consulting with the town’s legal counsel, they decided to use the AI Assessment Scale developed by Mike Perkins, Leon Furze, Jasper Roe, and Jason MacVaugh as a “framework for responsible and transparent use.”
“It was good for the (council), because they worked with the town’s counsel and the finance department to determine rules and prize money amounts,” Karp said. “It gave them real world experience.”
Entrants in middle school were asked to write between 250-600 words; high school students between 500-750.
Outreach to spread the word about the essay contest included school announcements, posting it through We-ha.com, the PTO newsletter, student newspaper and spreading the word through the town’s private schools.
Judging the contest was also a big component of the contest. Originality, research and organization were the prime factors in determining winners.
“How it fits the prompt and who wrote most eloquently,” Sebastian said.
The essay contest, according to members of the Mayor’s Youth Council, can only have a positive impact.
“We want everyone to get to know the broader history of West Hartford,” Allison added.
“Understanding the way West Hartford was and how people here used to live and how it shapes today,” she said.
“Helps you connect and builds research and writing skills,” Maddie Geraghty added.
“It’s a great project the Mayor’s Youth Council is doing,” Allison said. “We want people to become more involved in the community and be aware of the community so we can carry on the future. WHL
America250, created by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, was established by Congress in 2016. Its mission is “to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semi quincentennial. We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation.”
Across the nation, according to America250.org, the nation, towns, cities, and states will be reflecting on the past, present, and future of our democracy. Statewide, Connecticut 250 committees have been working to guide how our local communities can mold their own commemorations.
To that end, West Hartford’s America250 Task Force, comprised of more than 40 town employees and residents, have volunteered their time and effort to coordinate community events, programs, lectures, cultural opportunities, and more on a hyper-local level.
America250 Events
West Hartford started the America250 birthday last fall. These events will round out the remainder of the celebration. For more information, go to WestHartfordCT.gov/America250
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day Parade
10:00 - 11:00 am
West Hartford Center
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day Ceremony
11:00 am
Veterans Memorial
North Main & Farmington Avenue at Veterans Memorial
Sunday, May 31
Building a Dairy Empire: A.C. Petersen lecture & ice cream social
4:00 PM
Playhouse on Park
244 Park Road
Playhouse on Park Road
244 Park Road
Presented by Mary and Chuck Coursey
Saturday, June 6
Celebrate West Hartford
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Town Hall
50 South Main St.
Sunday, June 7
Celebrate West Hartford
Noon - 6:00 pm
Town Hall
50 South Main St.
Saturday, June 13 (rain date Sunday, June 14)
Japan Summer Festival
12:30 - 4:30 pm
Blue Back Square & Isham Road
Saturday, June 18
“America’s First System of Government and its Utter Failure” presented by Matt Warshauer
6:30 PM
Noah Webster House
227 South Main Street
Saturday, June 20
Juneteenth CommUNITY Day
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Town Hall parking lot
50 South Main Street
Saturday, June 27
West Hartford Pride Rally & Pride Festival
Rally: 10:45 AM
Festival: Noon-6 pm
Town Hall lot
50 South Main Street
Wednesday, July 1
“Salute to America's 250th Anniversary Concert” presented by the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra and West Hartford Women’s Chorale
7:30 PM
Duffy School Auditorium
95 Westminster Drive