Montgomery County's 'Girl Power Writing Contest'​ Winners Announced

SILVER SPRING, MD — The Montgomery County Commission for Women celebrated Women’s History Month in a unique way this year: by inviting all county residents of all ages to participate in the first annual Girl Power Writing Contest called “What’s It Mean to Be a Woman in 2017?”

Children and adults submitted all type of works that reflected the contest theme, including: poems, short stories and drawings. Girls and women were encouraged to share their own experiences, while boys and men reflected on what they think life is like for the women in their life.

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Submissions were intellectual, emotional, funny, spiritual and serious. Themes included: I’m proud to be a girl/woman; battling stereotypes; breaking the glass ceiling; body confidence; or I can do anything a boy/man can do.

The Commission for Women selected winning entries based on creativity and content from four categories: elementary school students, middle school students, high school students and adults. The winners are:

• Adults – First Place (Tie): Amy McGuire and Tiquia Bennett
• Adults – Honorable Mentions: Katherine Melvin and Chaunetta Anderson
• High School – First Place (Tie): Fatima Hamdan (Clarksburg HS) and Laura Wagner (Quince Orchard HS)
• High School – Honorable Mention: Meghana Kotraiah (Thomas Wooton HS)
• Middle School – First Place: Vera Chaudhry (Thomas Pyle MS)
• Middle School – Honorable Mention: Calla Reese O’Neil (Bullis School)
• Elementary School – First Place: Freya Reslar (College Gardens ES)
• Elementary School – Honorable Mention: Anna Murray (Wood Acres ES)

Winners will be featured on the Commission for Women website, and will receive a swag bag, a photo with Commissioners, a congratulatory letter from County Executive Isiah Leggett and an invitation to be a guest of honor at a Montgomery County Commission for Women event of their choice.