Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program
Student Essays

Six Teens Win National Essay Contest Award – May 23, 2013 

The winners are:  

• First Place High School Winner – Yesenia Villarreal, 12^th Grade, South San Antonio High School
• Second Place High School Winner – Angelica Cavazos, 11^th Grade, Odessa High School
• Third Place High School Winner – Heather Perez, 11^th Grade, South San Antonio High School
• First Place Middle School Winner – Luis P. Acosta, 8^th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Second Place Middle School Winner – María Del Rosario Zuñiga, 8^th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya , Texas
• Third Place Middle School Winner – Pedro Ramirez, 8^th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya , Texas

High School Honorable Mentions

• Steven Andre Mares – 12th Grade, South San Antonio High School , San Antonio
• Elaine Ovalle – 11th grade, Odessa High School , Odessa , Texas

Middle School Honorable Mentions

• José Luis Arrellano – 7th Grade, Ann Richards Middle School , La Joya , Texas
• Stephanie Cantu – 7th Grade, Irene M. García Middle School , La Joya , Texas
• Alicia Gonzalez – 7th Grade, J.D. Salinas Middle School , La Joya , Texas
• Krystal Johnson – 7th Grade, Abraham Kazen Middle School , San Antonio
• Elizabeth Miranda – 8th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya , Texas
• Robert Morales  – 7th Grade, Robert C. Zamora Middle School , San Antonio
• Heriberto Quintero – 8th Grade, Dwight Middle School , San Antonio
• Danielle Ramirez – 8th Grade, César E. Chávez Middle School , La Joya , Texas
• Cristina Valdez – 8th Grade, Memorial Middle School , La Joya , Texas

Read the full news release (2013).

See color highlights flier (2013).

Six Teens Win National Essay Contest Award – May 17, 2012 

The winners are:

• First Place High School Winner – Lanala Hayes, 9^th Grade, Phillis Wheatley High School, Houston
• Second Place High School Winner – Sade Harnsberry, 10^th Grade, E.L. Furr High School, Houston
• Third Place High School Winner – Omar Galvan, 10 ^th Grade, E.L. Furr High School, Houston
• First Place Middle School Winner – María Armendariz, 8^th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Second Place Middle School Winner – Yamileth Gonzalez, 8^th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Third Place Middle School Winner – Pedro Sanchez, 8^th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya, Texas

High School Honorable Mentions

• Jacqueline Davis, 11^th Grade, South San Antonio High School, San Antonio
• Brittney Solomon – 9^th Grade, James Madison High School, Houston

Middle School Honorable Mentions

• Emily Duran – 7^th Grade, Memorial Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Rashaard Sheats – 7^th Grade, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Atlanta
• Josue Reyes – 7^th Grade, Ann Richards Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Atzhiry Gutierrez – 8^th Grade, César E. Chávez Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Aylin Kovar – 8^th Grade, Alan B. Shepard Middle School, San Antonio
• Alberto Martinez – 7^th Grade, Domingo Treviño Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Juanita Flores – 7^th Grade, J.D. Salinas Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Julie Alderete – 8^th Grade, Lorenzo De Zavala Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Flor Rivera – 7^th Grade, Irene M. García Middle School, La Joya, Texas

Read the full news release (2012).

See color highlights flier (2012).

 Young Tutors Win National Essay Contest Award – May 18, 2011

The six winners are:

• First Place High School Winner – Kayla Rugg, Fuller Performance Learning Center, Cumberland County Schools, North Carolina
• Second Place High School Winner – Nabeel Sattar, Lee High School, Houston
• Third Place High School Winner – Briana Pardue, Odessa High School, Odessa, Texas
  
  
• First Place Middle School Winner – Isaac Mata, Ann W. Richards Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Second Place Middle School Winner – Luis Vallejo, Juan D. Salinas Middle School, La Joya, Texas
• Third Place Middle School Winner – Arlette Calderon, Memorial Middle School, La Joya, Texas

Read the full news release (2011).
See color highlights flier (2011).

 Six Students Win National Essay Contest Award – March 22, 2010

The six winners are:  

• First Place High School Winner – Kwame’ Weatherall, Lee High School, Houston ISD, Texas – Also see Kwame’s YouTube video! 
• Second Place High School Winner – Andre Merritt, Fuller Performance Learning Center, Cumberland County Schools, North Carolina
• Third Place High School Winner – Kayla Rugg, Fuller Performance Learning Center, Cumberland County Schools, North Carolina
  
•  First Place Middle School Winner – Wendy Ramírez, Dr. Javier Sáenz Middle School, La Joya ISD, Texas
• Second Place Middle School Winner – Phylicia Molette, Kennedy Middle School, Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia
• Third Place Middle School Winner – Valeria Acevedo, Ann Richards Middle School, La Joya ISD, Texas

Read the full news release 2010.
See color highlights flier (2010).

 

 Texas Students Win National Essay Contest Award – February 24, 2009

U.S. winners are:   

• First Place High School Winner/Grand Prize – Gabriella Guajardo, South San Antonio High School
• Second Place High School Winner – Nubia Cid, South San Antonio High School
• Third Place High School Winner – Nora Isaac, Uvalde High School
  
• First Place Middle School Winner – Jamilleth Hernandez, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya
• Second Place Middle School Winner – Mary Vidaurri, Memorial Middle School, La Joya
• Third Place Middle School Winner – Crisol Ortuño, Ann Richards Middle School, La Joya

Read the full news release 2009.
See color highlights flier (2009).