Naperville Students Win Crime Prevention Essay Contest

NAPERVILLE, IL — Several students at Naperville schools had many great ideas on how to prevent crime in their neighborhood. As part of the Naperville Police Department’s Crime Prevention Essay Contest, the students submitted their ideas, but only a few of them could win. The NPD recently announced the winners of the contest.

In the third-fourth grade age category, the winner is Viviana Didzbalis, a third-grader at Scott Elementary School, who wrote about the basics of locking doors and windows and reminding others to do the same. Honorable mentions in this category go to Akhshith Rengaraju, fourth grade at May Watts Elementary School; Zahra Moosani, third grade at Kingsley Elementary School; and Poorna Bhat, third grade at White Eagle Elementary School.

In the fifth-sixth grade age category, the winner is Julia Kapur, a fifth-grader at Highlands Elementary School. Julia wrote a thoughtful essay outlining the need for early education to teach young children not to turn to crime when they encounter hardships later in life, but rather to seek help from others for their problems. Honorable mentions in this category go to Athena Chen, fifth grade at Highlands Elementary School, and Annie Zhang, fifth grade at Chesterbrook Academy.

In the seventh-eighth grade age category, the winner is Alan Chen, a seventh-grader at Madison Junior High School, who wrote about the importance of knowing your neighbors and working together as a community in partnership with the police to prevent crime. Honorable mentions in this category go to Adhvaith Mhahesh, sixth grade at Francis Granger Middle School, and Caroline Hughes, eighth grade at All Saints Catholic Academy.

“Each and every essay that was submitted was so thoughtful and well-written that we really had a difficult time choosing winners for this contest,” said Police Chief Robert Marshall in a news release, adding that he is seriously considering implementing a few of the students’ ideas. “I am so proud of all the students, and if their passion for crime prevention and forward-thinking ideas are any indication, I think Naperville is going to be in really good hands down the road.”

In recognition of October being Crime Prevention Month, Naperville Police and Crime Stoppers asked students in grades 3 through 8 to write essays of no more than 300 words outlining “What I Would Do to Prevent Crime.”

The winners – Viviana, Julia and Alan – will be treated to lunch with Chief Marshall and enjoy a private tour of the Naperville Police Department.

“One of Crime Stoppers’ primary missions is to teach people how to be proactive because crime prevention is truly everyone’s responsibility,” said Nancy Quigley, president of Naperville Crime Stoppers. “We’re so proud of the students for identifying so many measures through which our community – even children – can work together to keep Naperville safe.”

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