League of Women Voters Piedmont Essay Contest and Civics in Action Awards.
The League of Women Voters Piedmont is pleased to announce the winners of its Essay Contest and Civics in Action awards. Both awards aim to encourage engagement in politics and civic affairs for young people. Both winners will receive a $500 award from LWVP.
Essay Contest 2021
This is the second year the League has held the essay contest, open to all high school juniors and seniors who are residents
of Piedmont or are currently enrolled in Piedmont High School or Millennium High School.
Students responded to the question:
“Given the fragility of democracy as evidenced by the insurrection of January 6, 2021, how can your generation work to ensure that democracy in the United States is strengthened for future generations?”
The winner of the Essay Contest is Andre Stankiewicz, PHS Junior, for his thoughtful essay “We Are Not Too Young to Begin Now.” Members of the League Board were delighted to host Andre at our yearly changeover meeting in May, where he spoke briefly and read his essay. Below is a link to the essay.
Civics in Action Award
The Civics in Action award was presented this year to Audrey Edel, PHS Senior, by social studies teacher Hillary Freeman at the Senior awards ceremonies. Ms. Freeman enumerated the many ways Audrey Edel has been a leader in student life and in the community.
Audrey has been active in multiple campus clubs, worked as a reporter for the Piedmont Post for five years, is active in Drama, and is Senior Class President. As the pandemic began last year, Audrey helped to create a virtual mentoring program known as Kindness Coaches, where high school students mentored elementary school children, providing academic and emotional support. The program now has over 200 participants.
Lastly, Audrey was one of three students who began the Teens4Biden club to get students educated and involved in the election. They then expanded to the broader Bay Area community with a large educational event with over 80 attendees. Audrey has embodied the League’s primary tenet of civic engagement.
On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Piedmont, warmest congratulations to Andre Stankiewicz and Audrey Edel.