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Winners Announced for the 2023 High School Essay Contest - Tampa

Thursday, December 14, 2023

This is the logo for the 2023 High School Essay Contest - Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.

Congratulations to the winners of the Tampa Division's 2023 High School Essay Contest and to the participating schools and teachers who won classroom grants.

The contest attracted over 500 entries from high school students in the Tampa Division of the Court. The student winners were recognized at a ceremony held at the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse in Tampa on December 11, 2023. All ten students, their families, and friends attended the ceremony. Principals Dr. Stephen Covert of Pine View School, Mark Watson from Strawberry Crest High School, Katie Rocha from Newsome High School, and Kimi Hellenberg from Plant High School were in attendance along with teachers including Chris Pauling, Kendall Nickerson, Charles Leadingham, and Brian Ayres.

Lily Lewis, First Place winner, with Judge Susan Bucklew.
The ten finalists with Judges Virginia Hernandez Covington, Susan Bucklew, Amanda Arnold Sansone, and Christopher Tuite.
 
First Place: Lily Lewis
Pine View School
Prize: $2000
$500 Classroom Grant to Lily Lewis's Teacher, Chris Pauling

Second Place: Siah Kennedy
Newsome High School
Prize: $1000
$500 Classroom Grant to Siah Kennedy's Teacher, Brian Ayres

Third Place: Reese Weicht
Newsome High School
Prize: $500
$500 Classroom Grant to Reese Weicht's Teacher, Joel Goodrick

Fourth Place: Lindsay Luberecki
Pine View School
Prize: $250

Fifth Place: Nathan DeSouza
Pine View School
Prize: $250

Sixth Place: Loryn Steinbach
Strawberry Crest High School
Prize: $250

Seventh Place: Issa Dingman
Pine View School
Prize: $250

Eighth Place: Ella Taylor-Clark
H.B. Plant High School
Prize: $250

Ninth Place: Bhoomi Shah
Strawberry Crest High School
Prize: $250

Tenth Place: Ankur Bishayee
Pine View School
Prize: $250

 
 
Schools With the Most Submissions:
 
First Place: Bell Creek Academy
Grant: $1,000
 
Second Place: Strawberry Crest High School
Grant: $500
 
Third Place: Pine View School
Grant: $250
 
 
Teachers With the Most Submissions:
 
First Place: Charles Leadingham
Bell Creek Academy
Grant: $150
 
Second Place: Chris Pauling
Pine View School
Grant: $150
 
Third Place: Kendall Nickerson
Strawberry Crest High School
Grant: $150
 
December 14, 2023