9th Annual Gandhi Essay Contest

Each year, the Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies hosts the RI 8th Grade Gandhi Essay Contest. The purpose of this contest is to celebrate the life teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and to encourage Rhode Island students in Grade 8 to think critically about, personally connect with, and to become nonviolent peacemakers in their schools.

2018 – 2019 Essay Prompt:

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” – Gandhi

On Friday, May 3, the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies held its 9th annual Rhode Island 8th Grade Essay Contest awards ceremony at the University of Rhode’s Robert J. Higgins Welcome Center. Out of 131 essay submissions from middle schools throughout Rhode Island, 27 student finalists were selected to attend the awards ceremony. Six students were awarded 1st, 2nd & 3rd place prizes, and four students were recognized with the Gandhi Compassion and Selfless Service Award.

winners:

1st place:
Jeevika Thazhaiselvam, Dr. E.A. Ricci Middle School

2nd place:
Zoey Fioriollo, Joseph L. McCourt Middle School
Isabella Monteiro, The Gordon School

3rd place:
Sophia Blythe, The Gordon School
Alexander El Okby, Western Hills Middle School
Isabel Guastella, Rocky Hill School

finalists:

Barrus, Kathryn Curtis Corner Middle School

Blythe, Sophia Gordon School

Bradley, Genevieve Rocky Hill School

Brock, Ava Curtis Corner Middle School

Burgos, Gabriela Nathanael Greene Middle School

Callahan, Kaylee Kickemuit Middle School

Costello, Aubrey Curtis Corner Middle School

El Okby, Alexander Western Hills Middle School

Fiorillo, Zoey Joseph L. McCourt Middle School

Gerlach, Millie The Pennfield School

Gladski, Campbell Westerly Middle School

Guastella, Isabel Rocky Hill School

Hayden-Harper, Anson The Pennfield School

Howard, Alvina Woodlawn Catholic Regional

Kirby, Jenna Mount St. Charles Academy

Kravitz, Gabriel Gordon School

Martin, Paris Edward R. Martin Middle School

McQuarrie, Marin Narragansett Pier School

Monaco, Caroline Mount St. Charles Academy

Monteiro, Isabella Gordon School

Morales, Migdalia Segue Institute for Learning

Nagle, Anne Marie The French American School of Rhode Island

Nunez, Joshua Segue Institute for Learning

Schenenga, Mia Archie R Cole Middle School

Sotomayor, Dirceu Edward R. Martin Middle School

Thazhaiselvam, Jeevika Dr. E.A. Ricci Middle School

Traino, Victoria Mount St. Charles Academy

the Gandhi compassion & selfless service award recipients:

In addition to the 8th Grade Gandhi Essay Contest awards, the URI Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies honors eighth graders who have been outstanding in demonstrating compassion and service to others as part of their daily lives.

The following students were selected for the Compassion & Selfless Service Award:

Louna Allory – Exeter-West Greenwich Junior High School

Alvina Howard – Woodlawn Catholic Regional

Aleshia Taillon – Saint Philip School

Anna Vredenburg – Saint Philip School

The Center thanks and congratulates all of the 8th graders who participated in this year’s essay contest.

For a complete photo album and video from the ceremony, please visit our Facebook.