Charter School Essay Contest 2006

The second annual Minnesota Charter School Essay Contest was sponsored by the Center for School Change in honor of National Charter School Week. Over 150 essays were submitted by Minnesota charter public school students at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Students who wrote the winning essays read them on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol, May 5, 2006. Students from a number of other Minnesota charters also performed, via dancing, drumming, and juggling. Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren joined the students, complimenting them on their hard work.

Most inspiring essay

• Nicole, Community of Peace Academy

First place essays and pictures

• Kimberly Xiong, Community of Peace Academy
• Drew Elizabeth Maakestad, St. Croix Preparatory Academy
• Kayla Bailey, New Century Charter School

Second place essays and pictures

• Noah Jacobson, PACT Charter School
• Quenikki Ternoir, Concordia Creative Learning Academy
• Austin Koppelmann, Northern Lights Community School
• Ana Lopez, Partnership Academy
• Kevin Zanudo, Partnership Academy
• Nathaniel Hassell, Northern Lights Community School

Third place essays

• Mari Clanaugh, Kenwood Edison
• David McLaughlin, PACT Charter School
• Clement Taylor, North Shore Community School
• Selam Tesfatsion, Community of Peace Academy
• Anne Gutierrez, St. Croix Preparatory Academy
• Katie Stangel, Northern Lights Community School
• Brittany Eckstein, New Century Charter School