Black History Month Essay Runner-Up Awarded Prize at Cloonan Middle School

Cloonan Middle School 6th grader Aline Correa was announced as a runner-up in Optimum Community’s inaugural Black History Month Essay Contest. Aline’s essay was chosen from over 450 essays in the middle school category. Students throughout the tristate area were invited to submit an essay of 500 words or less naming an African American, past or present, with whom they would choose to spend a day and explain why. Aline was awarded with an iPad mini as her prize.

Aline was inspired to write her essay about Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, who was a member of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics where she won gold medals in the individual all-around and team competitions.