The Pinal County Juvenile Court Community Advisory Board hosted the 9th Annual Character Counts Essay Contest Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 13 .Nearly 100 family, school personnel and court staff were in attendance at the ceremony at the Pinal County Superior Courthouse in Florence with the Honorable Gilberto V. Figueroa as the guest speaker.
Winners were chosen based on their essays about one of the six pillars of character: responsibility, citizenship, respect, fairness, caring and trustworthiness. Over 3,000 entries were received from public, private, and charter schools throughout Pinal County. Winners included:
Division 1 (K-2 grades)
• First place – Karissa Puente, First Avenue Elementary School (San Manuel)
• Second place – Jayden Gray, Circle Cross Ranch Elementary School (San Tan Valley)
• Third place – Carolyn Monroe, Skyline Ranch K-8 School (San Tan Valley – Florence)
• Honorable Mention- Julianna Garcia, Mammoth Elementary STEM School (San Manuel)
Division 2 (3-6 grades)
• First place – Trevor Hogan, First Avenue Elementary School (San Manuel)
• Second place – Mikayla Rockey, Circle Cross Ranch Elementary School (San Tan Valley)
• Third place – Emma Harry, Peralta Trails Elementary School (Gold Canyon)
• Honorable Mention- Hayley DiBona, Magma Ranch K-8 School (Florence)
Division 3 (6-8 grades)
• First place – Brianna Ulfers , EDUPRIZE School (Queen Creek)
• Second place – Lindsey Watson, Cactus Middle School (Casa Grande)
• Third place – Jacob Feniello, Skyline Ranch K-8 School (San Tan Valley)
• Honorable Mention- Matthew Trombatore, Peralta Trails Elementary (Gold Canyon)
Division 4 (9-12 grades)
• First place – Arianna Ring, Florence High School (Florence)
• Second place – Ian Singco, Florence High School (Florence)
• Third place – Indiana Ibarra, Florence High School (Florence)
• Honorable Mention- Ashley Vargas, San Manuel High School (San Manuel)