This morning, Class of 2020 eighth grader, Lance Laster, was recognized at the 21st Annual Chapman University Holocaust Art and Writing Contest virtual awards ceremony for his outstanding writing.
After its premiere on the
Holocaust Art & Writing Contest Facebook
page, the ceremony will be available on the
Rodgers Center’s YouTube
channel.
The artwork of Jane Handa ('20) and the essays of Katie Shepard ('20) and Lance Laster ('20) were chosen to represent SJSC.
Lance's essay, titled
Sharing: An Offering,
was named the first-place entry in the Middle School Prose category.
This is the
sixth
year in a row that the work of a St. Junipero Serra Catholic student has been recognized. Over the past six years, SJSC students have placed first in the Middle School Prose category four times and second in that same category once. Five additional SJSC students have been named finalists in the Middle School Prose category, and two SJSC students have been named finalists in the Middle School Art category in the past six years.
Thousands of students from 28 states and 6 countries participated in this year's contest. To have the writing of one of our SJSC students recognized in a competition of this scope and caliber is exciting. It speaks not only to the quality of the students' work but also to the quality of the writing program we offer. Our program gives students a strong foundation that serves them well at SJSC and beyond. English Language Arts teacher, Ms. Pantano, is to be commended for having her students place as finalists and winners over multiple years. Her dedication to excellence and love for her students beautifully reflect the ministry of Catholic education.
Most importantly, though, the impressive work of these students speaks to the empathy and justice that the entire SJSC community--parents, faculty, and staff--strives to model every day.
