Do the Write Thing: Students make their voices heard in fight against gun violence
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, students across the state and country are actively making their voices heard in the fight against gun violence.
Brian LaBadie and Lilly McGrath joined CBS12 News This Morning to explain how local students shared a time when they or someone else did the right thing when faced with violence.
Volunteer judges chose five girls and five boys as the top Palm Beach County finalists for 2018’s Do the Write Thing Challenge.
Additionally, each school selected its own “Top 10” group of student finalists. Middle schools in Palm Beach County will implement lessons learned from students, so classmates can learn by example.
On Tuesday, May 8 at 11 a.m., more than 1,000 people, including 330 student finalists along with their families, teachers, and administrators will be recognized during a luncheon at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center.
During that time, the top 10 finalists will be awarded cash prizes and some of the essays will be interpreted by professional actors.
A boy and girl ambassador from the county’s top 10 will represent the Palm Beach County School District in Washington, D.C., joining students from across the country in a national recognition ceremony this summer.
The 2018 finalists are: Anushka Scudder, Ambassador, Boca Raton Middle School; Lilly McGrath, 1st Runner-up, Independence Middle School; Jada Lovely, 2nd Runner-up, Lake Shore Middle School; Rose Etienne, 3rd Runner-up Carver Middle School; Charlotte So’Brien, 4th Runner-up, Bak Middle School; Justin Hersh, Ambassador, Emerald Cove Middle School; Gabriel Cardenas, 1st Runner-up Palm Springs Middle School; Abedalwdod Ali, 2nd Runner-up, Western Pines Middle School; Jacob Flakes, 3rd Runner-up, Omni Middle School; Julian Boudri, 4th Runner-up, Bak Middle School.
The challenge is an annual program developed by the National Campaign to Stop Violence. It is designed to address the issues and causes of youth violence in America. The challenge encourages middle school students across the country to make a personal commitment to do something about this problem through classroom discussions and the writing challenge.
To learn more about the challenge, visit their website.
