Stamford Public Schools: Stamford Students Recognized By Prometheum Foundation

Press release from Stamford Public Schools:

December 3, 2021 - 1:17pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2021

Stamford, Conn – Stamford Public Schools’ (SPS) is proud to announce that the following students have been recognized by the Prometheum Foundation as winner of their Mayoral Debate Essay Contest.  Throughout the month of October, classrooms across the city focused on the election process and the importance of civic engagement.  On Tuesday, October 19, the Prometheum Foundation live-streamed its debate between the two candidates for Mayor of Stamford: Caroline Simmons and Bobby Valentine. The motto of the Prometheum Foundation is “Democracy Demands Discussion, Discourse, and Debate.” The Foundation encouraged Stamford students across the city to tune in to the debate and participate in an essay contest. The prompt for the essay was “What is the single most important issue the candidates discussed in the Prometheum Foundation’s Mayoral Debate and why is that issue important to Stamford?” Essays were adjudicated based on their overall persuasiveness; grammar and spelling; and use of information from the debate. The panel of judges recognized the following students for their excellent essays.

Elementary School Winners

1st place ($100) - Drianna Pesantez, Toquam Magnet Elementary School

2nd place ($50) - Sumayyah Davis, Toquam Magnet Elementary School

3rd place ($25) - Mireya Jakhar, Toquam Magnet Elementary School

Middle School Winners

1st place ($100) - Amelia Battikha, Dolan Middle School

2nd place ($50) - Kathryn Bordon, Turn of River Middle School

3rd place ($25) - Vihaan Goyal, Turn of River Middle School

AITE Winners

1st place ($100) - Gil Vadel

2nd place ($50) - Katie Priscott

3rd place ($25) - Sarah Barry

Stamford High School Winner

1st place ($100) - Wyatt Elsner

Westhill High School Winners

1st place ($100) - Aaron Eben

2nd place ($50) - Hudson Jang

In addition to the essay contest, the Prometheum Foundation also sponsors the Franklin Forum, a non-partisan political and philosophical discussion for high schools students in Stamford.

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Stamford Public Schools (SPS) comprises more than 16,000 students, over 1,500 professionals, and 21 schools, including seven magnet schools and three International Baccalaureate sites. SPS has a total of 13 elementary schools, five middle schools and three high schools. The mission of the Stamford Public Schools is to provide an education that cultivates productive habits of mind, body and heart in every student.

SPS is proud that our district is as rich in diversity as it is in talent. We have students from many cultural backgrounds and geographic locations—as demonstrated by the more than 70 different languages spoken in the homes of our families. SPS offers our students a learning experience rich in cultural diversity and reflective of the global society in which they will work and live.

This press release was produced by Stamford Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.