Greenwich High Freshmen Win New York Times Editorial Writing Honors

Contributed photo: from left, Greenwich High School freshmen Jean Zamora, Sarah Xu, Gjeorgjinio Brulaj, Zilana Lee and Henry Shi.

Two editorials submitted by Greenwich High School (GHS) ninth-grade students are among the Top Ten winners of the New York Times Second Annual Student Editorial Contest. A third GHS student editorial received an Honorable Mention in the contest that drew 4,500 submissions nationwide.

Sarah Xu, Gjeorgjinio Brulaj, and Jean Zamora, GHS freshmen, collaborated on the editorial “Why We Stayed Up Until Midnight Finishing This Editorial” making the New York Times Top Ten Editorial winners. Henry Shi, also a freshman, wrote the editorial “Americans Should Defend Their Digital Privacy” which also made the Top Ten Editorials. Ninth-grader Zilana Lee received an honorable mention for “The Dark Underside of College Admissions”.

Sarah, Gjeorgiinio, Jean and Zilana are students of English teacher Diana Martinez. Henry is an English student of Jessica VonBrachel.

The New York Times said, it “especially prized pieces that showcase a unique and interesting voice in the allotted 450 words. The winners resisted formula or used it deftly to their advantage.” Winners also were acknowledged for “playing with language, engaging readers in a scene, making clever analogies, dismissing counter-arguments, and employing humor and irony for effect.

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