This was our second PROVINCE-WIDE CONTEST. We would like to thank the hundreds of students who entered the contest with their stories, essays, poems, videos, artworks, and other media. The judges appreciated the time and energy that you invested into developing very creative submissions.
Prizes for the Teachers!
All of the teachers of the winners will receive a $200 VISA gift card.
See video by Ms. Maureen MacSween, a teacher at Holy Cross School in Calgary, Alberta
Successful Contest in its 14th Year!
Statement on the Successful 2023 Student Contest by Pat Christie, Executive Director of Alberta Champions
Please Note: ALL VIDEOS can be zoomed to be full-screen, by clicking on the icon at the lower right of the video, once they are playing.
GRADES 7-9 Winners
First Prize:
Juliana Bui, Grade 9 student at Holy Cross School in the Calgary Catholic School District (teacher: Maureen MacSween) for her video about Annie Gale
Corollary materials: Video Script and Bibliography
Winner of a $500 VISA gift card and a certificate of recognition of her achievement
Second Prize
Bernadette Montero Grade 9 student at Holy Cross School in the Calgary Catholic School District (teacher: Ms. Maureen MacSween) for her essay and her artwork about Gus Yaki
Winner of a $350 VISA gift card and a certificate of recognition of her achievement
Third Prize
Charleigh Burns, Grade 9 student at Holy Cross Collegiate in Strathmore in the Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools (teacher: Shanna Burns) for her essay on Anne Lawrence
Winner of a $200 VISA gift card and a certificate of recognition of her achievement
Grades 7-9 Top Ten Finalists
Here are students that made it into the Top Ten (in no particular order), worthy of recognition:
| Sophia Malikov, Gr 7 | Elmer Gish, St. Albert |
| Juliana Bui, Gr 9 | Holy Cross, Calgary |
| Winifred Walter-Enudi-Grade 7 | St. Francis Lethbridge |
| Elina Yuan -Grade 9 | Queen Elizabeth-Calgary |
| Bernadette Montero-Grade 9 | Holy Cross-Calgary |
| Charleigh Burns– Grade 9 | Holy Cross Strathmore |
| Sofia Ezekiel– Grade 7 | Holy Cross- Calgary |
| Ayman Gani-Grade 9 | Grandview Heights-Edmonton |
| Charlotte Hull– Grade 9 | Westmount Charter-Calgary |
| Lauryn Doherty– Grade 8 | Ottewell Jr. High-Edmonton |
These students will also receive a certificate of their Top Ten status.
Grades 4-6 Top Ten Finalists
Here are students that made it into the Top Ten (in no particular order), worthy of recognition:
| Annae Franco– Grade 6 | Centre for Learning at Home-Okotoks |
| Jane Bleile-Grade 6 | Calgary Christian Elem. School |
| Mason Green-Grade 6 | Westmount Charter, Calgary |
| Kason Kim– Grade 6 | Calgary Christian Elem. School |
| Richard Barrows-Grade 4 | Coalbanks Elementary |
| Malaya Murray– Grade 6 | Johnny Bright School, Edmonton |
| Owen Connolly-Grade 5 | Queen Elizabeth, Calgary |
| Duncan Barton-Grade 4 | Queen Elizabeth, Calgary |
| William Villarica-Grade 4 | Holy Name, Calgary |
| Marigold Hinch – Grade 5 | Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, Calgary |
These students will also receive a certificate of their Top Ten status.
GRADES 4-6 Winners
First Prize
Mason Green Grade 6 at Westmount Charter (teacher: Ms Carly Nettesheim) for his story about Gus Yaki, and his Google Slides presentation
Winner of a $300 VISA gift card and a certificate of recognition of his achievement
Second Prize
Richard Barrows in Grade 4 at Coalbanks Elementary in Lethbridge School District (teacher Mike Wevers) for his story and his video of ” Uptale – Virtual Reality Video Game” about Gus Yaki
Winner of a $200 VISA gift card and a certificate of recognition of his achievement
Third Prize
This is why we do it! A teacher’s perspective…
Ms Amber Araki is an ELL Strategist with Calgary Board of Education.
Last year (2022) she had TWO WINNERS in the Essay Contest!