KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� May 8, 2020 鈥� The 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies honored the finalists and winners of its Tenth Annual Rhode Island Eighth Grade Gandhi Essay Contest during a remote ceremony May 1. They were joined online by approximately 70 people, including 8th grade essayists, their families and teachers. The Gandhi Compassion & Selfless Service nominees were also recognized and given special certificates.
Each year the 溏心vlog免费B站 Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies hosts this state-wide contest. The purpose is to celebrate the life teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and to encourage Rhode Island students to鈥� think critically about, personally connect with, and become nonviolent peacemakers in their schools and communities.聽This year, 108 students representing 23 schools submitted entries. They were encouraged by their teachers to celebrate the life of Gandhi and to think critically about his lessons of peaceful resistance and nonviolence to bring about positive social change and cultural equality.
While many are aware of Gandhi as a moral and political leader, a nonviolent activist, a humanist, and a pacifist, few recognize him or many of his followers as environmentalists. In fact, Gandhi illustrated his insight and perceptiveness in speaking of environmental problems more than a hundred years ago. As we become more aware of the global environmental crisis, that perceptiveness is still relevant today. His words, 鈥�Earth provides enough to satisfy every [person鈥檚] needs, but not every [person鈥檚] greed,鈥� served as an essay prompt for this year鈥檚 contest.
The first-place champion of the 10th Annual Rhode Island Eighth Grade Gandhi Essay contest was Eva Mermin from Lori Hawk鈥檚 classroom at The Pennfield School in Portsmouth. Eva, who impressed everyone with a passionate reading of her essay aloud, received a cash prize of $100.
Two second place award winners were honored and received a cash prize of $75 each:
- Madeline Brock from Ruby Wilde鈥檚 classroom at Curtis Corner Middle School in South Kingstown
- Issy Swain from Lori Hawk鈥檚 classroom at The Pennfield School
Three third place award winners were honored and received a cash prize of $50 each:
- Natasha Connolly from Luke Anderson鈥檚 classroom at the Gordon School in East Providence
- Olivia Noon from Sarah Power鈥檚 classroom at Rose of Lima School in Warwick
- Kiara-Lynn Pinto from Megan Starr鈥檚 classroom at the Segue Institute for Learning in Central Falls
Thirteen finalists were also honored:
- Vanessa Anaya (Teacher: Teresa Lauth, Segue Institute for Learning,)
- Tory Blechman (Teacher: Ruby Wilde, Curtis Corner Middle School)
- Jessica Flores (Teacher: Teresa Lauth, Segue Institute for Learning)
- Juliana Hayes (Teacher: Jody Cicchese, Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich)
- Eleanor Kirkman (Teacher: Luke Anderson, Gordon School)
- Hannah Pearson (Teacher: Gillian Buckley, Exeter-West Greenwich Junior High School)
- Eitan Pessin (Teacher: Luke Anderson, Gordon School)
- Ava Rataic (Teacher: Serena Burt, Philip School in Smithfield)
- Alessio Scanapieco (Teacher: Rosemarie Comforti, Monsignor Clarke School in South Kingstown)
- Delia Tanzi Buchbaum (Teacher: Auburn Cole: Quest Montessori School in Narragansett)
- Nabou Thiam (Teacher: Celeste Chudy, Good Shepherd Catholic Regional School in Woonsocket)
- Benjamin Togbay (Teacher: James Murrau, Portsmouth Middle School)
- Ciel Tougas (Teacher; Auburn Cole, Quest Montessori School)
The Gandhi Compassion & Selfless Service Awards give tribute to students who exemplify the qualities of compassion and service according to Gandhi鈥檚 philosophy, 鈥淭he best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.鈥� The two recipients of this prestigious award were Faith Daggett from Warwick Middle School, nominated by teacher Carol Papa, and Alex Lehouiller from Rocky Hill School, nominated by teacher Jody Cicchese.
Since 2010, more than 1,200 students have submitted essays based on quotes from Gandhi鈥檚 work and life. All Rhode Island 8th graders were eligible to participate in this educational contest, including home schooled individuals. The judging committee was made up of Gandhi scholars, 溏心vlog免费B站 professors, and public school teachers. The essays were exceptionally well written, demonstrating deep thought, research and personal connection, making judging extremely challenging for committee members.
Additional information on the Gandhi essay contest can be found on the Gandhi page at the .
溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies advocates the teachings and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi through education and training in peaceful alternatives to violence conflict.