D47 Student's Essay Gets 1st Place In Regional Contest

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL -- Four Bernotas Middle School eighth grade students were recently recognized as top finishers in the American History Essay Contest, according to District 47 school officials. The students are:

• Katelyn Hansen - 1st Place
• Emma Podpora - 2nd Place
• Benjamin Kovarik - 3rd Place (tie)
• Bethany Sternberg - 3rd Place (tie)

The contest, which is sponsored by the Kishwaukee Trail chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is open to 5th to 8th grade students in public, private, and parochial schools and registered home-study programs, according to a news release from District 47

The contest was established to encourage young people to think creatively about United States history and to learn about history in a new light. This year’s theme was the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

As a first place finisher in the local competition, Hansen’s essay was submitted to the state American history chair for consideration for the regional competition. Hansen recently learned she took first place in the Illinois District II division and that she will now advance to the next level of the state competition, school officials said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever researched this much on a topic before,” said Hansen, who will be a freshman at Crystal Lake South High School next year. “What I learned is that it took so much for women to get equal rights, and even then, what they got didn’t apply to all women.”

Hansen said she learned she was really interested in the topic and may consider exploring other historical aspects of our country in the future. She may even consider a career as a writer or journalist.

“I feel like there’s a whole new window of opportunity,” she said.

Eligible students were encouraged to write a journal entry (in 1,000 words or less) about the pros and cons of the 19th Constitutional Amendment. Submissions were judged based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation and neatness. Students in Mrs. Bowman’s language arts/social studies classes were invited to submit an entry for this year’s contest, according to the news release.

All Bernotas top finishers in the DAR contest will attend an award ceremony at McHenry County College on March 3, where they will be recognized for their achievements.

CAPTION: From Left: Katelyn Hansen, Bethany Sternberg, Emma Podpora, and Benjamin Kovarik. PHOTO CREDIT: District 47