East Panhandle Times

Spring Mills High School has announced the winner of its inaugural National Hispanic American Heritage Month Essay Contest. The contest was designed to honor the cultural heritage of Hispanic Americans and encouraged students to share their experiences through writing.

The winning essay was submitted by Jasmine Gutierrez, a tenth-grade student in Mrs. Erika White’s English Language Arts class. In her essay, Gutierrez expressed pride in her Hispanic heritage, discussed challenges she has faced, and shared her aspirations for the future as a Hispanic American. Her reflections emphasize the significance of cultural identity and resilience. Gutierrez is involved in JROTC and is the granddaughter of Donna Llewellyn and John Llewelyn from Martinsburg, as well as the daughter of Francis Garcia from Martinsburg and Gabino Gutierrez from Mexico.

Gutierrez received a custom acrylic award plaque, a certificate of achievement, and an Amazon gift card as part of her recognition. Her essay will also be featured in Spring Mills High School’s literary magazine, Lucid.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our students and their voices through this essay contest,” said Mark Salfia, principal of Spring Mills High School. “This initiative not only honors National Hispanic American Heritage Month but also empowers our students to share their stories and experiences.”

Rebecha Catlett, Spring Mills High School’s ESL teacher and former Berkeley County Teacher of the Year, organized the contest. She stated that it is "a testament to Spring Mills High School’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every student’s voice is valued."