Wells Road student essay advances in annual DAR competition

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Avery Pradhan, center left, and Michaela Ashe, center right. Submitted photo

Have you ever won anything? Wells Road Intermediate School student Avery Pradhan wrote an essay that won and continues to win. Avery entered the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) essay contest in December. The contest was open to students in grades five through eight from public, private, and home schools. All students respond to the same prompt and are scored on a rubric.

This year’s prompt was: The Second Continental Congress met from May 10, 1775–March 1, 1781, and included delegates from all 13 colonies. This Congress was instrumental in shaping what was to become the United States of America. Imagine that you are a delegate during 1775–1776. Which colony are you from and what will be important for you to accomplish for your colony?

Nine students from Wells Road participated in the competition, which was the highest level of participation we’ve had in fifth grade. The first round of competition was at the chapter level, which for Granby was with the Abigail Phelps Chapter in Simsbury. Avery’s essay earned first place in the chapter and fellow Wells Road fifth grader, Michaela Ashe, earned third place. Both girls were honored at a chapter ceremony in March.

Avery’s essay immediately moved on to the state level competition. A few weeks later, Avery was notified she won the state level and her essay advanced to the regional level, which included all the New England states. Avery went on to win that level as well!

By winning at the regional level, Avery’s essay advanced to the final stage at the national competition and she is still waiting to learn the results. Avery and her family will attend the state level awards ceremony in April.

Wells Road students and teachers are proud of and excited for Avery who is a model student. We are eager to see where her excellence in writing takes her next.

Editor’s note:

Other local winners include:

Grade 8 – First Place: Amani Akedde-Bernstein, East Granby Middle School

Third Place: Stephanie Clement, East Granby Middle School

High School Winners – First Place: Hansika Lankala, East Granby High School (She is also the First Place High School winner at the State and Northeast District Division levels. Her essay has gone on to the National level competition.)

Third Place: Abhinav Lenkala, East Granby High School.