By ASHLEY BUNKER
Moapa Valley Progress
It was a happy “Morning Muster” on Friday, March 27 for Grant Bowler Elementary School. At the Facebook live event, three fifth graders at the were recognized for their “Celebrate America” essays.
These essays were submitted into a contest sponsored by the American Immigration Council. The three student winners were Lyla Bunker, Shelby Cornwall, and Jack Wheeler. Each were awarded a certificate, and a cash prize for their efforts.
At the local level, the Moapa Valley Educational Foundation (MVEF) awarded Bunker first place for her essay on William Bradford, of whom she is a direct descendant.
The entries were then submitted to the Nevada Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA). AILA awarded Cornwall first place for the following poem which she had written.
I look around.
And what I see.
Are Americans. Not all like me.
But that doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter their race.
We’re all in the same place.
Cornwall’s poem will now be submitted to a panel of celebrity judges, and the national winner is expected to be announced sometime in May.
The American Immigration Council holds this contest annually specifically for fifth grade students. This contest begins at the local level, where each chapter of the AILA select the winning entry to compete at the national level. The goal is to strengthen America by honoring its immigrant history and promoting a positive view on immigrants and immigration.
Due to the current social distancing practices, local resident and immigration attorney, Nathalie Gottschalk, a representative for MVEF and the Nevada AILA Chapter, was unable to personally present the awards to the contestants. But Gottschalk, an immigrant herself, said that she enjoyed the entries.
“All three entries are great! she exclaimed. “All have their own personal stories. The contest is a way for us to look at ourselves, family, our ancestors and to find out where we come from. We came to this country with dreams, with goals. It is important for our students to know that this country is made of immigrants and the contest is a way for them to find out about it, and discuss with their parents about their own stories.”
Gottschalk and her family reside in Overton, NV.
The Moapa Valley Educational Foundation (MVEF), is a 501 c (3) non-profit tax-exempt organization made up of local valley residents that share a goal of encouraging education for all students in Moapa Valley.
