Cumberland 5th Grader Named 2019 Governor For A Day

PROVIDENCE, RI — Governor Gina Raimondo announced the winner of this year's Governor For A Day contest. Cadence Solon, a fifth grader at Ashton Elementary school in Cumberland focused her winning essay on the gender pay gap, the importance of ESL and special education teachers and school construction.

"Cadence wrote a fantastic essay about important issues facing our state," Gov. Raimondo said. "Her passion for education is inspiring, and I can't wait for her to be sworn in as Rhode Island's 2019 Governor for a Day!"

In early May, Solon will officially be sworn in as Rhode Island's governor and spend the day in the Rhode Island State House with Gov. Raimondo.

In her essay, Solon wrote about the need for more teachers to help English-learner students and those with special needs. The full essay can be read here.

"Of all the things I would like to change, what I would start with is to have more teachers in school to help children that don’t speak English or have disabilities. Just like we should support our communities with roads and bridges; also we need to support our children’s future and the world they will live in," Solon wrote in part. "The way I would achieve this is by sitting down to talk with principals and leaders for schools all across Rhode Island to make sure we have enough space and enough new special teachers. This is important because to succeed some students need help."

Runners-up included Yaquelin Hernandez, an eighth grader at Segue Institute for Learning in Central Falls, Daje'E McDonald a fifth grader at Emma G. Whitenact Elementary in East Providence, Tessa Comfort, an eighth grader at Gallagher Middle School in Smithfield and Lily Hannuksela, a sixth grader at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown. Gov. Raimondo thanked all the girls who entered the contest from schools across the state.

"Thank you to all the incredible young women who submitted essays or videos," Raimondo said. "It's fantastic to see the next generation of Rhode Island leaders already stepping up and making a difference in our state."

READ MORE: Raimondo Launches Fifth 'Governor For A Day' Contest