Catania Fenstermaker, a 6th grader at Otto Petersen School, won the second-place prize for her essay in the Oregon Mayors Association’s (OMA) “If I Were Mayor…” civic awareness contest.
Each year, students statewide compete in three age groups using different media, describing what it would mean if they were the mayor of their city. Posters are designed by 4th and 5th-grade students; 6th through 8th-grade students write essays; and 9th through 12th-grade students produce a short video.
As the second-place winner in the state, Catania will receive a check for $300. In Catania’s essay, she said that if she were mayor, she would create “a program with kids to help them learn about how their community works.”
“When I was brainstorming, I thought of many unique ideas like a better dog park, improving the sporting fields, and more sidewalks. Then I thought, who would carry out the dog parks? Who would use the new sporting fields? Who would walk on those sidewalks? The next generation of kids,” Catania wrote in her essay. “So I thought to myself, why not make a program to boost the next generation into being good citizens and leaders.”
Catania’s vision and self-expression were strong enough to be recognized at the state level by the OMA Selection Committee. The competition begins with a local contest conducted by mayors. The local first-place winners are entered in the state-level competition in the spring, which is judged by members of the OMA Selection Committee.
Twenty-five cities participated in this year’s contest at the local level, with 45 entries being forwarded to the state-level competition.
About the Oregon Mayors Association
Founded in 1972, the Oregon Mayors Association (OMA) is a voluntary association of persons who hold the office of mayor. The OMA is recognized as an affiliate organization in cooperation with the League of Oregon Cities. About 75% of Oregon’s mayors are active members of the OMA.
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