25 West Hartford Middle School Writers Recognized by Rotary Club

West Hartford, Conn., April 22, 2018 – For the past 23 years, the Rotary Club of West Hartford has partnered biennially with English teachers at the city’s three middle schools – King Philip, Sedgewick and Bristow – to incorporate an essay-writing contest into the schools’ curriculum.

Using examples, anecdotes and personal stories, this year 800 students from the three schools wrote and submitted essays that expanded upon Rotary International’s 2018 theme “Making a Difference.” Student essays were required to be at least 500 words and read in 3-5 minutes. The students spent 3-4 weeks as part of their school curriculum working on this project in their English classes.

English teachers at all three West Hartford middle schools provided support for the event. Grade six English teachers across the district led students through the writing process and helped them to define their vision as they considered individuals who make a difference. Teachers reviewed student essays and chose the team winners and runners up.

Based on the quality of their work, 25 winning and runner-up writers attended a Rotary-sponsored luncheon at University of St. Joseph on March 29. Students who submitted the 12 winning pieces read them to an appreciative audience of teachers, family members and Rotarians.

The winning and runner-up writers are:

Bristow Middle School

Ms. Chelsea Smith’s class: Andrew Filotto, winner; Benjamin Dollar, runner-up

Ms. Brittany Leghorn’s class: Kyriakos Papasavas, winner; Irene Fotache and Ilana Brown, runners-up

King Philip Middle School

Ms. Sara Isaacs’ class: Anna Sicilano, winner; Elise Biondi and Nora Kingwell, runners-up

Ms. Lucinda Kulvinskas’ class: Clare Sweeney, winner; Ben Gwiazdoski and Meghan Fitzsimonds, runners-up

Ms. Heather Gaunt’s class: Ellie Goldstein, winner; Howie Lam and Lana Anderson, runners-up

Sedgewick Middle School

Ms. Meghan Gaignard’s class: Charisse Thorpe, winner; Jack Doyle, Rachael Haimes and Charlotte Tucker, runners-up

Ms. Melody Moore’s class: Lillian Fletcher, winner; Zoe Slap, Delaney Towey and Gavin McGrath, runners-up

Ms. MaryAnn Swain’s class: Adrianna Nelson, winner; Carmel Adhikari, Marissa Blonsky-Alers and Garrett Selstlad, runners-up

In recognition for the work done by all the project’s student writers, the Rotary Club of West Hartford made a $250 donation on the students’ behalf to the charity of their choice: The Alphonso I. Marquis Patient Assistance Fund #23425, a UConn Foundation fund that helps families who are having financial difficulties paying for a loved one’s cancer treatments. The fund was set up in memory of the uncle of Sedgwick Middle School student Charisse Thorpe, a 2018 Writing Project winner.

Through its biennial Writing Project, the Rotary Club of West Hartford wants to help students understand how important writing is to their future. “Students participating in the project learn of the many ways in which they or others can be a gift to the world, how they can make a positive impact, and how they can build a better tomorrow for all people. These are the key ingredients we hope they take with them to high school, college, careers and fulfilling, participative lives,” said Tony Rodriguez, a past president of the Rotary Club of West Hartford and coordinator of the Writing Project.

About the Rotary Club of West Hartford

Founded in 1952, the Rotary Club of West Hartford helps address today’s greater community and global social concerns based on Rotary International’s trademark “service over self” philosophy. The club’s members, who represent a diverse cross section of the town’s businesses and community organizations, raise thousands of dollars for local charities and international health initiatives, provide study abroad grands, host exchange students, sponsor a middle school writing project, give dictionaries to the town’s 3rd graders, support music students and much more. Learn more atwesthartfordrotary.org

Photo Caption: Winners and runners-up of West Hartford Rotary’s biennial Writing Project: Bottom row, left to right: Rachel Haimes, Adrianna Nelson, Nora Kingwell, Anna Siciliano, Elise Biondi, Ben Gwiazdoski, Cherisse Thorpe. Middle row, left to right: Charlotte Tucker, Lillian Fletcher, Howe Lam, Kyriakos Papasavas, Ilana Brown, Irene Fotache and Ben Dollar. Top row, left to right: Andrew Filetto, Delaney Towey, Lana Anderson, Garrett Selstad, Marissa Blonsky-Alers, Ellie Goldstein, Clare Sweeney, Meghan Fitzsimond, Zoe Slap, Gavin McGrath, John “Jack” Doyle and Rotary of West Hartford Past President and Writing Project Coordinator Tony Rodriguez. Photo credit: Jenny Smith/AcuityPR

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