ATLANTA - Since 2007, the GALEO (Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials) Leadership Council has held an essay contest, and an award ceremony "to increase awareness of the continual plight of farm workers and their contributions to America, while honoring civil rights legend Cesar Chavez".
This year the essay contest received nearly 100 entries in English and Spanish. Entries were considered from as closeby to GALEO's headquarters as Grady High School and as far away as Savannah and Valdosta. The winners include Jissel Beccerra Reyes of Gainesville, a student at Johnson High School.
The complete list of winners is as follows:
Adult Winners
- First Place: Leri Argueta, Rockdale County
- Second Place: Irene Diaz-Bazan, Gwinnett County
- Third Place: Yasmin Julio, Clayton County
ESOL Winners
- First Place: Bao Bui, Lowndes High School (Bao Bui happens to be an exchange student living in Valdosta)
- Second Place: Karla Lorenzo-Benitez, Lowndes High School
- Third Place: Mariacarmen Perez Ramirez, Lowndes High School
High School Winners
- First Place: Josh Doman, Westminster Schools
- Second Place: Jissel Beccerra Reyes, Johnson High School
- Third Place: Virginia Kuester, Westminster Schools
