Ocoee holds Black History Month writing contest

The city of Ocoee received 312 entries for the 13th Annual Black History Month Essay Contest, and 16 students are being awarded for their winning submissions.

The eight participating schools are Citrus, Maxey, Prairie Lake, Spring Lake, Thornebrooke and Westbrooke elementary schools; and Hope Charter and Renaissance Charter schools.

The City of Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board sponsored the contest. The awards ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive.

First-place winners will recite their winning essays and receive a $50 Best Buy gift card; second- and third-place winners will receive certificates of merit, a gift bag and a Chick-fil-A coupon. The ceremony will be televised on Ocoee TV Channel 493 on Spectrum.

The overall winner is Bryce Ownby of Thornebrooke, who receives a $250 Best Buy gift card.

Other winners are:

• Citrus — Matthew Rampersaud, first place; Laura Curry, second; Yanisha Rivera, third

• Hope — Jillian Goodrich, first; Sophie Morrison, second; Kyah Walker, third

• Maxey — Donia Fouissi, first

• Prairie Lake — Bennett Parani, first

• Renaissance — McKenzie Nicholson

• Spring Lake — Grace Click, first; Ryan, second; Corey Schaefer, third

• Thornebrooke — Bryce Ownby, first; Omoruyi Aliu-Otokti, second; Hamzah Gheith, third

• Westbrooke — Haven McClean, first.

Contact Amy Quesinberry at [email protected].