Laudato Si’ Contest Winners

Winners have been announced in the 2022 Laudato Si’ Contest. Students throughout the Archdiocese were asked to submit works around the importance of water, using Pope Francis’ encyclical letter and the broader themes of Catholic Social Teaching as a guide.

The entries showed a great deal of creativity, artistry, and insight into the topic. While the judging committee had a hard time choosing among so many quality submissions, they were able to narrow it down to award prizes by grade and county.

The list of winners is below. Congratulations to all of the winners, and thank you to each and every student who participated.

Kindergarten

Grand Prize: Leila Manasra, St. Philip School

1st Place, San Mateo County: Emerus Lai, St. Catherine of Siena School

1st Place, San Francisco County: Alessia Orloff, St. Philip School

Honorable Mention: Ellis Padilla, St. Philip School

Grade 1

Grand Prize: Francis Padilla, St. Philip School

1st Place, San Mateo County: Alfeilia Or, St. Veronica Catholic School

1st Place, San Francisco County: Olivia Delja, St. Philip School

Honorable Mention: Gerardo Rodriguez, St. Catherine of Siena School

Honorable Mention: Sara Salas, St. Anthony – Immaculate Conception School

Honorable Mention: Maximillian Simpson, St. Philip School

Grade 2

Grand Prize: Zayra Michel, St. Anthony – Immaculate Conception School

1st Place, San Mateo County: Simon Lin, St. Catherine of Siena School

1st Place, San Francisco County: Ellie Bendana, St. Anthony – Immaculate Conception School

1st Place, Marin County: Brooks Hall, St. Raphael School

Honorable Mention: Sarah Escarpe, St. Catherine of Siena School

Honorable Mention: Ricardo Huerta, St. Anthony – Immaculate Conception School

Grade 3

Grand Prize: Emma Grace Wong, St. Thomas More School

1st Place, San Mateo County: Lauren Kim, St. Catherine of Siena School

1st Place, San Francisco County: Danika Talorda, St. Thomas More School

1st Place, Marin County: Ruby Guillen, St. Raphael School

Honorable Mention: Cassidy Lyness Sales, St. Thomas More School

Honorable Mention: Julissa Mejia, St. Catherine of Siena School

Grade 4

Grand Prize: Alexa Manalastas, Holy Angels School

1st Place, San Mateo County: Sara Lopez Cruz, Holy Angels School

1st Place, San Francisco County: Elsa Hing, St. Philip School

Honorable Mention: Youri Bernard, St. Philip School

Honorable Mention: Orla Farrell, St. Philip School

Grade 5

Grand Prize: Ruthie Valdes, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, San Mateo County: Ellie Escarpe, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, San Francisco County: Caylie Gonzalez, St. Vincent de Paul School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Riley Au, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Olivia Kim, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Solstice Marenco, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

Grade 6

Grand Prize: Jackson Barney, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, San Mateo County: Ysobel Ferrer, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, San Francisco County: Finn Janhunen, St. Philip School – Read the Essay

1st Place, Marin County: Dante Paletta, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Oliver Celis, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Blythe Croll, Ecole Notre Dame de Victoires – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Hope Michels, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Grade 7

Grand Prize: Emily Miller, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, San Mateo County: Sophia Hsieh, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, Marin County: Kathryn Perez, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Charleigh Grace Miles, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Naya Noureddine, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Julia Padova, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

Grade 8

Grand Prize: Ayana Devgan, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, San Mateo County: Peter Laddaran, St. Catherine of Siena School – Read the Essay

1st Place, Marin County: Grace Basso, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Joseph Columbo, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Estella Johnson, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Katherine Kozubik, St. Anselm School – Read the Essay

High School

Grand Prize: Sam Meraw, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep – Read the Essay

1st Place: Sophia Knapp, Mercy High School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Ariel Alvarez, Mercy High School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Flora Gamba, Mercy High School – Read the Essay

Honorable Mention: Claire Wagner, Mercy High School – Read the Essay