FEATURE
First–place winner Layla McLaren and Scott Dudley.
Second–place winner Indira Yengera.
Third–place winner Lia Avidan and Scott Dudley.
CIVICS EDUCATION
‘If I Were Elected Mayor’ Essay Contest Winners
Contest encourages civic engagement among middle school students by Scott Dudley Florida League of Cities
T
hree middle school students were recently recognized for their winning submissions in the “If I Were Elected Mayor” statewide essay contest. The contest is sponsored by the Florida League of Cities and Florida League of Mayors (FLM) to foster civic engagement and community pride among sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students. Civics education is taught in Florida public schools as a vital tool to encourage public participation. Students participating in the contest were required to submit a single-page essay of no more than 250 words that began with the statement “If I were elected mayor ...” and described how they would make a difference in their city if they were elected mayor. The students were also asked to include information on how Home Rule helps make their municipality a great place to live. 62 QUALITY CITIES | THIRD QUARTER 2021
More than 450 submissions were received. Each student who submitted an essay received a certificate of participation, and the winners received gift cards and a joint resolution from FLC and FLM. The 2021 contest winners are: ‣ First place: Layla McLaren, eighth grade, Seaside Community Charter, Jacksonville ‣ Second place: Indira Yengera, seventh grade, Dunedin Highland Middle School, Dunedin ‣ Third place: Lia Avidan, seventh grade, Aventura City of Excellence School, Aventura. The first place presentation for Layla took place at Seaside Charter School in Jacksonville. Since Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry was unable to attend the presentation, Atlantic Beach Mayor
Ellen Glasser offered to facilitate and
preside over the presentation, given the proximity to Atlantic Beach and the strong beach connection. The second place presentation for Indira took place at the City of Dunedin’s Commission meeting. The third-place presentation for Lia took place at the City of Aventura’s Commission meeting. The League and the FLM plan to hold this contest again during the next school year. Look for more information to be available this September.
Scott Dudley is the Director of Field Advocacy and Federal Affairs at the Florida League of Cities, and he serves as Executive Director of the Florida League of Mayors. QC
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH (FROM LEFT), SHERYL YENGERA AND JENNIFER AVIDAN
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