A local elementary school student has won a national contest for her writing.
Last week, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) announced that Moapa Valley resident Lillia Villezcas was the winner of the 2023 Celebrate America Creative Writing contest.
Villezcas, who just finished fifth grade at Grant Bowler Elementary School in Logandale, entered the contest with a poem entitled “3”. The entry, which was published in last week’s edition of The Progress is a poignant statement of Villezcas’ experience of being a third generation in an immigrant family.
The annual contest challenges fifth graders across the country to reflect on, and write about one of two themes: “Why I am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants,” or “What Does It Mean to be a Welcoming Nation.”
The contest began at the local level with members of the Moapa Valley Community Education Foundation as judges. Local resident, Nathalie Gottschalk, a member of the Nevada Chapter of AILA, has encouraged local school kids to enter the contest for several years now.
After the local finalists are announced, the Nevada chapter of the AILA reviews all of the local winners and selects a state finalist.
This year Villezcas’ poem emerged as the Nevada state finalist and was sent on to the national level. There it was awarded as the winner of the national contest.
“This writing contest, which is made possible due to the generous support of the Murthy Nayak Foundation, has been a staple at the American Immigration Council,” said Gottschalk. “This year’s student participants hit a high mark for their penmanship, creativity, and thought-provoking work. Lillia Villezcas winning entry titled “3” was a powerful statement of the multi-faceted generational story of the immigrant experience.”
As part of her prize, Villezcas and members of her family will receive a trip to Orlando, Florida next month. There she will read her poem at the American Immigration Council national conference.
“We are very proud of Lillia for a job well done!” Gottschalk said.
1 thought on “Grant Bowler Student Wins National Writing Contest”
Congratulations, sweet child! What a wonderful topic to ponder. I’m proud that we’re a nation of immigrants, being that my ancestors arrived from Sweden and Scotland. She’s got a bright future! I would love to read her poem.