The story of a soccer-playing monster trying to fit in earned La Cañada’s Megan Reed first place in the 2009 Diverse Minds Youth Writing Challenge, as was announced at a June 2 award ceremony at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. The story, Angus & the Soccer Tryouts, secured the top prize for the graduating senior in this third-annual competition celebrating diversity. The children’s book is slated to be professionally published and Reed received a $5,000 college scholarship.
“It has truly been a joy to meet these remarkable young people and acknowledge their great work,” said B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, who presented the finalists with their awards. “I thoroughly enjoyed reading many of the entries into the competition. We are all proud of this insightful and meaningful program; it embodies the goal of explaining and commending diversity perfectly.”
Through this exciting competition, high school students—individually, or as part of a team—had the chance to write and illustrate a children’s book, aimed at kids between the ages of 5 and 10, to advocate for diversity and tolerance.
The contest, now in its third year, is an education and awareness initiative created in conjunction with B’nai B’rith programs that promote tolerance and communicate a message of equality among all citizens. The program aims to enlighten, inspire, and educate America’s young people and their families in an effort to destroy prejudices and strengthen the future of our youth.
This year’s judges included Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Jane Burrell, vice president of Public Programs for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Carla Sanger, president and CEO of LA’s BEST After School Enrichment Program; and Rabbi Mayer May, executive director of The Simon Wiesenthal Center, among others.
Mayfair High School’s William Osborn and Amanda Monzon teamed up to pen Alfred Alfredo Bakes a Pie: a Story about Pie-Versity, which placed second and earned Osborn and Monzon a share of the $2,000 award. South Pasadena High School seniors Krystal Tung and Jacques Lee created Bobby the Blue-Footed Booby, which took third place and a $1,000 prize, which Tung and Lee will split.
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