City Essay Contest Winners Announced

The City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage partnered with Dysart Unified School District to invite students in grades 3-12 to participate in the fourth annual ‘My El Mirage’ and ‘My Surprise’ Essay Contests in November 2024.  For the City of Surprise, this year’s prompt focused on how citizens could work together to provide a “clean, safe, and friendly community.” El Mirage students in grades 3-8 were asked to respond to the prompt, “I love El Mirage!  What is it about El Mirage, AZ, that makes it a place that you love?” El Mirage high school students were asked how citizens of El Mirage work together to “embrace progress while respecting its grand heritage.” Essays were limited to 500 words and were evaluated based on creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, and, of course, proper grammar. 

Surprise selected winners in specific grade bands and recognized them at the Surprise City Council Meeting on March 4, 2025. The City of Surprise winners in Dysart are Jocelyn Arnold from Kingswood Elementary School in the Grades 3-5 category, Gavin Patricca from Sonoran Heights Middle School in the Grades 6-8 category, and Michelle Barbe from Valley Vista High School in the Grades 9-12 category.  

Michelle Barbe, who is a junior, wrote that Surprise is a “city that truly embodies the principles of collaboration and celebration.”

Winners from El Mirage were also selected in grade bands. In addition to first prize winners, El Mirage also recognized second and third-place winners. These students will be celebrated at the City of El Mirage City Council Meeting on April 15, 2025. 

For grades 3-4, Immanuel Mason won first place, followed by Eli Resendiz who received second place, and Elida Acherbo placed third. All three students are from El Mirage Elementary School.

For grades 6-8, Surprise Elementary School students Ayah Alrafai won first place, Sofia Estrella followed up in second, and Kamila Spignor from Thompson Ranch Elementary School received third place. 

Ayah Alrafai, who is a seventh grader, wrote in her essay that she feels the “true heart of El Mirage is its community.”

For grades 9-12, Kyla Wahl of Valley Vista High School won first place, with Joseph Watts, who is also from Valley Vista High School, earned second place.

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city essay contest with support from teachers, administrators, and city leadership.  “Our young citizens and scholars show us what is working in our city and our schools. They give us hope for a future when they will be the leaders of tomorrow,” Edgerton said.