Local Student Named as Finalist in New York Times Editorial Contest

Bernotas seventh grader Izma Casubhoy is one of 58 teens worldwide who made it to the third round of The New York Times fourth annual student editorial contest. Out of 7,895 applicants who ranged in age from 13 to 19 years old, Casubhoy was one of only six 13-year-old students recognized. The writing contest invites teens to submit short, evidence-based persuasive essays about topics they care about in 450 words or less, according to a news release. .

To aid students and teachers with the contest, the New York Times provides 401 writing prompts in argumentative writing. Students must have cited works to support their stance using at least one NYT source and one outside source and could choose whether they wanted to submit entries individually or as a team, according to the news release.

This year’s topics ranged from affirmative action and climate change to American democracy and prison reform. Casubhoy’s editorial is titled “The Stakes of Steaks: Why Vegetarianism Is Clearly the Better Lifestyle.”

“Writing an editorial for this contest was such a valuable experience for me,” said Casubhoy. “I learned how to challenge myself as a writer and had the opportunity to express my opinion about a topic that means a lot to me. I never really imagined making it to round three. Out of all the wonderful writers out there, I am honored to be recognized."

Casubhoy is a student in Belinda Strebel’s seventh grade extended curriculum language arts class at Bernotas Middle School in Crystal Lake. Each year, Strebel encourages her students to enter writing contests to hone their editorial skills and share their ideas and perspectives.

“I wasn’t surprised when Izma’s editorial was recognized,” she said. “Her topic of vegetarianism is one that is regularly written about, but she took a unique stance that stood out and taught the audience new information about an old topic. If you look at the list of recognized writers, the majority are 17 and 18 years old. To be recognized as a seventh grader is extraordinary."

More about the winners of this year's contest can be found in this New York Times article.