2021 Bank of America Essay and Speech Competition winners announced

Nine finalists from 4th, 5th and 6th grades competed on May 6 in the annual Bank of America Essay and Speech Competition. The event was held virtually this year. Each of the participants delivered a three-to-five-minute speech based on an essay they had previously written on the topic of “What are the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you?”

Essay competition began at the school level. Each school judged the writing and nominated one 4th, 5th and 6th grade student essay writer to represent the school. Essays were then judged by a panel of teachers and the nine finalists competed in the virtual speech contest.

Bank of America’s South Sierra Valley Market and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) sponsor the competition, which awards trophies to all the finalists and Russo’s Books gift cards to the top three finishers in each grade level.

2021 Bank of America Essay and Speech Competition top three finishers:

4th Grade

1st – Blake Been (Bimat Elementary, Norris)

2nd – Anneliese Kimmel (Rio Bravo Elementary, Rio Bravo Greeley)

3rd – Ivan Valdez (Nueva Vista Language Academy, Delano)

5th Grade

1st – Iyla Mackey (St. John’s Lutheran)

2nd – Alyssa Mar (veterans Elementary, Norris)

3rd – Mackenzie Mitchell (Olive Drive Elementary, Norris)

6th Grade

1st – Tanav Doddapuneni (St. John’s Lutheran)

2nd – Mary Samaan (Bimat Elementary, Norris)

3rd – Abigail Biron (veterans Elementary, Norris)