2023 Essay Contest Results

Essay Contest Chair:   Bomsaerah Seong

The results of the 36th annual Great Women in Engineering and Science Essay Contest are in! The competition was fierce again this year with 31 entries from 9 schools in Colorado and Wyoming. A panel of volunteer judges enjoyed reviewing all of the essays. Congratulations to every entrant!

The top three awards are a $250, $150, and $100 prize in addition to a science kit and science book. The honorable merit recipients will receive a science kit, and the honorable mention recipients will receive a science book. The top three award winners are listed below in no particular order. They will also be announced in a video that will be shared with the teachers of the finalists.

Demi of Parker, CO for an essay on Gertrude Belle Elion. Demi attends 6th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Tara Kurtz.

Elle of Parker, CO for an essay on Grace Murray Hopper. Elle attends 6 th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Rebekah Guire.

Tallie of Parker, CO for an essay on Lise Meitner. Tallie attends 6 th grade at Parker Core Knowledge Charter School and was sponsored by teacher Rebekah Guire.

School Awards: This year two schools will receive the school library award for outstanding participation in the essay contest. To qualify for this award a school must submit essays from at least 20% of the sixth graders in the participating classes. The books provide information on women engineers and scientists. These excellent references will support teachers and classrooms in future research, not only for this contest, but also for other scientific, historical, or biographical projects.

The aim of the school library award is two-fold: to supply 6 th graders throughout Colorado and Wyoming with research materials and to encourage teachers to include the essay contest in their curricula in order to expose all of their students to the significance and opportunities of science-related careers. The schools receiving awards this year are:

• Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, Parker, CO
• Excel Academy Charter School, Arvada, CO

Honorable Merit Awards: Four students will receive Honorable Merit Awards this year. This year’s prize is a National Geographic Science Magic Kit. The Honorable Merit award recipients are:

• Julianne – Skinner Middle School
• Sarah – Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Carter – Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Malayla – Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Bella – DCS Montessori Charter School

Honorable Mention Awards: Five students will receive Honorable Mention Awards this year. This year’s prize is the book Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God by Shirley-Raye Redmond. The Honorable Mention award winners are:

• Addison – Century Middle School
• Logan – Excel Academy Charter School
• Cameron – Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Nuha – Parker Core Knowledge Charter School
• Emily – Prairie Crossing Elementary School

Thank you to the panel of judges who spent their valuable time reviewing the essays. Without their commitment this contest would not be possible.