St. John the Baptist Catholic School Students are Winners in Essay Contest

St. John the Baptist Catholic School Students are Winners in Essay Contest

Seven students from St. John the Baptist Catholic School were recently recognized for outstanding achievement, winning awards in the 2009-2010 American History Essay Competition. Hosted by the Vineyard Trails Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, all schools in Napa, Sonoma and Yountville were invited to participate with 168 total essays being submitted from six schools. The top three winners in grades five through eight were recognized.

Writing in the first person, the winners described their feelings when the golden spike was driven at Promontory Summit in Utah upon completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, as well as, their life and hardships while working on the railroad.

Charlie, first place fifth-grader, wrote from the perspective of an Irish man who worked on the railroad: “I got here two years ago and I am so tired. Everything bad happens here on the railroad. Indian attacks are happening everyday! And just yesterday my friend Jimmy got into a bloody fight…”

Lily, first place sixth-grader, wrote from the unique perspective of the wife of a Chinese man employed working with explosives: “ … Cheng had been killed in an explosion at the jobsite. I was distraught and I threw myself onto my bed and cried for hours until I couldn’t cry anymore. I felt like my world had just stopped.”

Colby, first place seventh-grader, wrote from the perspective of a Chinese worker on the railroad: “Today is the coldest that it has ever been. Two Irish men got frostbite and went to the nearest camp doctor…..That night it took us a long time to thaw out the rice and cook it. Neither of us could sleep because of the cold and the continuous thoughts of Indians coming to kill us.

Other students from St. John’s that wrote award-winning essays included: a second place for Natalia, 5^th grade; and three third places for Teagan, 5^th grade, Caroline, 6^th grade, and Samantha, 7^th grade.