City honors 20 young artists and writers in annual Poster and Writing Contest

During a special ceremony at the April 30^th City Council Meeting, Mayor Barbara Halliday and the Hayward City Council recognized 20 local students as the winners of the 2019 City of Hayward Earth Day Poster and Writing Contest. The annual Contest, now in its 36^th year, provides Hayward students an opportunity to verbally and visually display their unique perspectives around such environmental topics as water conservation, energy efficiency, recycling, composting, among others. 

This year, more than 750 entries were submitted by students representing 31 Hayward schools. The posters, poems, and essays were judged by members of the Hayward Arts Council, and the winning entries were selected based on originality, clarity, and creative expression of the theme. 

The following students were recognized during the ceremony:

Kindergarten to 1^st Grade Posters

1^st Place          Calla Barbe, Stonebrae Elementary School

2^nd Place         Melany Ortega, Cherryland Elementary School

2^nd to 3^rd Grade Posters

1^st Place          Olivia Elizarrey, Longwood Elementary School

2^nd Place         Aaron Jesus Gomez Tejada, Palma Ceia Elementary School

4^th to 5^th Grade Posters

1^st Place          Arabella Ancheta, Schafer Park Elementary School

2^nd Place         Isabella Villarreal, Stonebrae Elementary School

6^th to 8^th Grade Posters

1^st Place           Andrea Morales, Bret Harte Middle School

2^nd Place          Aylin Hernandez-Perez, Bret Harte Middle School

9^th to 12^th Grade Posters

1^st Place           Angelica Chan, California Crosspoint Academy

2^nd Place          Yareli Moreno, Mt. Eden High School

Kindergarten to 1^st Grade Poems/Essays

1^st Place            Amélie León, Schafer Park Elementary School

2^nd Place           Juan Picazo, Southgate Elementary School

2^nd to 3^rd Grade Poems/Essays

1^st Place           Christine Batungbakal, Southgate Elementary School

2^nd Place          Caleb Han, Eden Gardens Elementary School

4^th to 5^th Grade Poems/Essays

1^st Place           Zyan Sanganoo, East Avenue Elementary School

2^nd Place          Razeen Hafiz, Eden Gardens Elementary School

6^th to 8^th Grade Poems/Essays

1^st Place           Mehkai Sowunmi-Figueroa, Bret Harte Middle School

2^nd Place          Cynthia Sanz, Bret Harte Middle School

9^th to 12^th Grade Poems/Essays

1^st Place           Marlin Brown, Tennyson High School

2^nd Place          Santo Lukito, Mt. Eden High School

Students who submitted winning entries received a certificate of achievement from Mayor Halliday, as well as a gift card.  The teachers of each student winner also received a gift card. 

To view pictures from the ceremony, please visit www.hayward-ca.gov/2019-poster-writing-contest-winners.