The Estonian Society of Los Angeles is proud to announce the winners of the essay contest “The Importance of Community” for Middle and High School students.
The contest was introduced earlier this year to encourage students to be actively thinking about their community and writing about it. The contest was well responded to and got great feedback.
Thank you very much to our amazing judges:
Pamela Anchang, Founder of The Immigrant Magazine
Sini Harkki, Program Director, Greenpeace Nordic
Eva-Maria Liimets, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Juuli Hiio, Consul, Consulate General of Estonia, San Francisco
Jaak Treiman, Honorary Consul of Estonia in Los Angeles
We were so grateful to welcome students to the contest and to read their thoughts and feelings on the Estonian Community globally, describing both what they have learned and their own lived experiences. We want to extend special congratulations to all participants and thank you to all of you writing such compelling essays.
2023 “The Importance of Community” Contest Winners are:
First:
Royce Willis – “My search for the spirit of Kalevipoeg” (California)
Second:
Miina Anvelt – “Who Am I as an Estonian-American: The Importance of Community and Self Discovery” (Virginia)
Third:
Allison Vilms – “The Importance of Community” (Massachusetts)
All three of the winning essays will be published in the Estonian Society of Los Angeles Newsletter, Global online magazine “Estonian World”, and Estonian newsweekly in the United States “Vaba Eesti Sõna” and more.
