Valley Stream North Student Places In Nationwide Essay Contest

VALLEY STREAM, NY. — Valley Stream Central School District announced this week that Valley Stream North sophomore Olivia Howard had been named runner-up in the 18th annual Optimum Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest, placing second in a nationwide pool of writers for her piece titled, “Chosen by the Music.”

In her 500-word essay, Howard was tasked with describing a person, cultural experience, celebration or tradition that helped her connect to hispanic culture and explaining its significance. To fulfill that requirement, Howard told the story of the role music played in her early life. Growing up in a Brooklyn household with Jamaican and Trinidadian roots, district officials said Howard was exposed early and often to reggae and soca, but ultimately gravitated toward salsa.

“Living in a diverse neighborhood exposed her to a wider variety of music, and it was salsa that uniquely captured her interest and, through repeated exposure, fostered a deep appreciation for the art form,” District officials said.

The first place winner in the high school competition was a student from Norwalk, CT, while the middle school first prize went to a student from Brentwood, NY.