2023 Respect Life Essay Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners in the 34th Annual Respect Life Essay Contest. This year’s contest focused on the theme “Life is a Blessing—Servant of God Dr. Jerome Lejeune.” Students responded to questions about the doctor’s work around Down syndrome and how that relates to Catholic values around human life.

Winners and honorable mention recipients will be celebrated at a Mass and awards ceremony on Sunday, April 30.

Please see the complete list of winners below.

Kindergarten

Grand Prize: Jin Lucas Lorenzana, Holy Angels School

First Prize, San Francisco: Zoe Pang, St. Monica School

First Prize, San Mateo: Winter DeWitt, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Mia Benedetti, St. Isabella School

First Grade

Grand Prize: Joel Isaac Manzano Borneo, All Souls School

First Prize, San Francisco: Seraphine Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Mateo: Aarav Acharya, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Austin Bolanos, St. Anselm School

Second Grade

Grand Prize: Mateo Galvez, St. Isabella School

First Prize, San Francisco: John Lee Cottrell, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Mateo: Skylar Prion, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, Marin: Julia Spagna, St. Isabella School

Third Grade

Grand Prize: Nina Feldman, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, San Francisco: Jocelyn Cortez da Silva, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Mateo: Lauren Kim, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, Marin: Siena Withey, St. Isabella School

Fourth Grade

Grand Prize: Jesus Alvarez, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Francisco: Miguel Arriola, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Mateo: Alexa Manalastas, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Jonny Hayden Fahy, St. Anselm School

Fifth Grade

Grand Prize: Natalie Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Francisco: Oriana Rayner, Notre Dame des Victoires

First Prize, San Mateo: Daniel Gonzalez, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: William Pass, St. Isabella School

Sixth Grade

Grand Prize: Audriana Rivera, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Francisco: Elijah Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Mateo: Maggie Bala, Our Lady of Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Axel Patterson, St. Isabella School

Seventh Grade

Grand Prize: Julia McAuliffe, St. Patrick School

First Prize, San Francisco: Brooklyn Bunn, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Mateo: Stefanie Monzon, St. Matthew School

First Prize, Marin: Jackson Gamble, St. Isabella School

Eighth Grade

Grand Prize: George Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Francisco: Nathaniel Block, Stella Maris Academy & Christopher Jerry, Notre Dame des Victoires

First Prize, San Mateo: Justin Chan, St. Matthew School & Alyssa Trehan, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, Marin: Quan Ha, St. Isabella School & Samantha Ariyoshi, St. Isabella School