In the latest Around Town feature, news on the winners and honorable mentions of this year’s Palo Alto Students Foundation Poetry Contest and the nomination of a Gunn High student to the County Youth Task Force of Santa Clara.
poetic prowess… More than two dozen local students have been honored this year Palo Alto Student Foundation Poetry Contest. The contest gave entrants the opportunity to write on any topic and in any style, as long as their submission was an original piece and within the 300-word limit.
Yunhan Luoa student from fourth to Palo Verde Elementary School, took first place in the preschool through sixth grade category for his poem titled “Best Friend.” Sixth graders Adrienne Lec of JLS Connections Program and Saria Lum of Harker College, won second place for their poems, “Figment” and “The Day We Turn Hatred Into Hope”, respectively. Fourth place was shared by Milly Anscomb, Emilie Kuo and Max Peterson. Nine students received honorable mentions in the category.
Palo Alto High students all placed in the seventh through 12th grade division. Junior Allyson Lee took first place for the poem “Carry On, They Say”. Coming in second was another junior March Bau for “Runner in the middle of the peloton”. Third place was a tie between junior Claire Quin and second Miles Gardner for their pieces, “Distantly Intertwined” and “A Hospital Parking Lot”, respectively. Fifth place prizes were awarded to seniors Guillaume Rumelhart and junior Claire Qi. Six other students received honorable mentions in the category.
The foundation originally planned to reveal the winners on April 25, but pushed the announcement back to May 8 for judges to review the high volume of entries and make a final decision. For the full list of winners, visit paloaltostudents.org/poetry-contests.
YOUTH VOICE MATTERS… gunn high junior Katie Rueff is one of 15 members Santa Clara County Youth Task Forcean advisory body of secondary school students to the county board of supervisors.
The Palo Alto resident’s lengthy resume in community work, which mostly revolves around environmental issues, will certainly benefit the group. She was a member of Representative Anna Eshoo’s Student Advisory Council and worked with the Palo Alto City Council to pass a resolution in support of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, according to a Tuesday, May 3, press release from the Supervisor’s office. Joe Simitianwho appointed Rueff to the task force.
“We all benefit when young people participate in local government and make their voices heard,” Simitian said in the statement.
Rueff’s resume also includes internships at Citizen lobby for the climate and 350 Silicon Valley and as President of the best friends club and Gunn’s Green team.
“Overall, through my service to these organizations, I not only gained extensive experience in politics and leadership in my community, but also honed my skills in cooperation, accountability and time management,” Rueff said. in the release.
