Student at Galileo School Named Winner of Annual Civil Rights Essay Contest

Victorville, CA—Earlier this week, sixth graders at Galileo School of Gifted and Talented Education received an unexpected visit from Victorville Mayor Gloria Garcia when she joined their lunch period to surprise the winner of the City of Victorville’s Annual Civil Rights Memorial Essay Contest. 

When Mayor Garcia made the surprise announcement that sixth-grader Evan Young had won the essay contest, he was unaware that his family and friends were waiting in the wings to congratulate him.  

Evan’s winning essay about American suffragist and women’s rights advocate, Lucy Burns was selected among essays submitted by students from the Victor Elementary School District.  A portion of Evan’s winning essay will be displayed on a plaque honoring Lucy Burns in the City of Victorville’s Civil Rights Memorial located at City Hall.  The plaque will be unveiled at to be held at Victorville City Hall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20.

“I am pleased to recognize Evan Young for his winning essay about Lucy Burns and her tremendous impact on women’s rights in our country,” said Gloria Garcia, Mayor of Victorville.   “As Evan summarized in his essay, American women like myself have the right to vote because of Lucy Burns’ efforts.” 

Jan Gonzales, Victor Elementary School District Superintendent said, “We are very proud of Evan for choosing to ‘honor and remember’ the passionate activism of both Lucy Burns and Alice Paul in his essay.  As ‘one mind and spirit,’ they advocated for the 19^th Amendment that granted women the right to vote in America.”

Mayor Garcia also praised Evan’s teacher, Jaely Meeks.  “You are doing it right, Mrs. Meeks and thank you!” said Mayor Garcia.  For the third year-in-a-row, the essay winner is one of Mrs. Meek’s students.  A total of four essay winners have come from Meeks’ class since the Civil Rights Essay Contest began.

A full-length version of Evan’s winning essay will be published on the City of Victorville website at VictorvilleCA.gov.

Best Best & Krieger LLP Attorneys at Law generously sponsored the bronze plaque that will honor Lucy Burns in the City of Victorville Civil Rights Memorial.  The Civil Rights Memorial was created to ‘honor and remember’ the sacrifices and triumphs of America’s Civil Rights Leaders.   

All of the plaques displayed in the Memorial have been donated by area businesses and organizations.  The Memorial is located at Victorville City Hall.  With the installation of the bronze plaque honoring Lucy Burns, the Memorial will contain five plaques honoring Civil Rights Leaders as memorialized the in the essays of Victorville students.

For more information about the Victorville Civil Rights Memorial including sponsorship information, contact (760) 955-3306 or send an email to civilrightsmemorial@VictorvilleCA.gov