Veteran’s Day Essay Award Winners Recognized
Eight United Hebrew Institute students were recognized for their achievement in an essay contest sponsored by UHI and the Wyoming Valley Veteran's Day Committee. The Committee asked that area students reflect on the topic, "Why is it important to have a Veteran’s Day Parade?" Under the direction of Lesley Baltimore and Barbara Welch, UHI's Language Arts Instructors, UHI conducted an in-school essay contest with the winner moving onto the next level of competition. A panel of UHI instructors including Carole Panunzio, Jewel Jacobs and Tim Showalter judged all in-school entries and chose the following winners. Placing first in the fourth and fifth grade category was Benjamin Kaplan, Ross Kleinman placed second, with Adina Newcome-Beill and Matar Estikangi tying for third place. In the sixth through eight grade category, Joshua Rutta’s essay scored first place, Aaron Pernikoff was the second place winner, and Avi Newcome-Beill and Josh Greenberg tied for third. Proudly, Joshua Rutta's entry went on to the Wyoming Valley Veteran’s Day Committee essay contest and placed second.
All of the winners read their essays to the student body and their parents and received their awards at a recent assembly also attended by Mr. Sam Greenberg of the Jewish War Veterans. One theme that was echoed by the essays was that a parade is a way to give honor to our veterans and this includes children. It is important for children from an early age to recognize that the military serves and protects us and we should respect our service members for their contribution to our well-being.
All of these students focused on the many contributions and sacrifices made by members of our military with Josh Rutta’s essay reflecting the thoughts of Politician Zell Miller, that it is the soldier who has ultimately given us the freedom of the press, speech, and right to protest.
Group Photo includes: Front: Ross Kleinman, Ben Kaplan, Adina Newcome-Beill, Matar Estikangi. Back Row: Mrs. Barbara Welch, Mr. Sam Greenberg, Josh Greenberg, Josh Rutta, Aaron Pernikoff, Avi Newcome-Beill, Rabbi Nemetsky and Mrs. Lesley Baltimore
Individual Photo includes: Second Place Winner in the Wyoming Valley Veteran’s Day Committee Essay Contest Joshua Rutta with Principal, Rabbi Raphael Nemetsky