JFK Student Wins Italian Essay Contest

A ninth-grader at John F. Kennedy High School, in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, was recently named this year’s winner of the Italian Heritage and Culture Month Essay contest.

Rachel Woodiwiss, a student in Antonietta Valenti’s Italian 2 honors class, was awarded for her treatment of Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer Matthew Biondi.

The focus of the essay contest was to highlight a notable contributor of Italian heritage. An avid swimmer herself, Woodiwiss was inspired to write about Biondi’s accomplishments as an Italian-American competitive swimmer.

The Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee and the Italian Teachers’ Association Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Italian sponsored the contest. Woodiwiss will receive a special recognition from the organization at a later date and $200 as well.

Submitted by Bellmore-Merrick Schools