Winners announced in 2022 Respect Life Essay Contest

The winners have been determined for the 2022 Respect Life Essay Contest. This year’s theme was “Our Lady of Guadalupe – Patroness of the Americas and of the Unborn.” The contest was open to students in kindergarten through high school, with different instructions for each grade level. The contest guidelines can be viewed here.

More than 700 entries were received from throughout the three counties of the Archdiocese. A team of staff and volunteers reviewed them to choose entries that responded to the prompts well and showed creativity and understanding of the key concepts.

For each grade level a grand prize winner was chosen, as well as a first prize winner for each county. There were also numerous honorable mentions chosen for each group. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who spent time creating entries to the contest.

All participants and their families have been invited to a Mass and Awards Ceremony, to be held on Sunday, April 24.

Essay Contest Winners

Kindergarten

Grand Prize: Patrick Sainz, home school, San Francisco

First Prize – San Mateo: Gerardo Rodriguez, St. Catherine of Siena School, Burlingame

First Prize – San Francisco: Sebastian Muzzatti, St. Brendan Parish School, San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Gideon Squire, St. Anselm School, San Anselmo

First Grade

Grand Prize: Andie Aguirre-Sacasu, St. Anselm School, San Anselmo

First Prize – San Mateo: Sarah Escarpe, St. Catherine of Siena School, Burlingame

First Prize – San Francisco: Athena Muscat, Mira Loma Elementary School, San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Kellan Dupre, St. Anselm School, San Anselmo

Second Grade

Grand Prize: Vivian Barbarotto, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Redwood City

First Prize – San Mateo: Max Rost, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Redwood City

First Prize – San Francisco: Martin Payne Brabec, Stella Maris Academy, San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Niamh Gordon, St. Isabella School, San Rafael

Third Grade

Grand Prize: Miguel Diaz, All Souls Catholic School, South San Francisco

First Prize – San Mateo: Aria Cuyugan, All Souls Catholic School, South San Francisco

First Prize – San Francisco: Octavia Traverso, Holy Name School, San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Eva Rodriguez, St. Isabella School, San Rafael

Fourth Grade

Grand Prize: Ruthie Valdez, St. Catherine of Siena School, Burlingame

First Prize – San Mateo: Luke David, All Souls Catholic School, South San Francisco

First Prize – San Francisco: Liam Carey, Stella Maris Academy, South San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Jesse Colby, Our Lady of Loretto School, Novato

Fifth Grade

Grand Prize: Vianza Felisa Ruelos, Stella Maris Academy, South San Francisco

First Prize – San Mateo: Jenna Shqair, Holy Angels Catholic School, Colma

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

First Prize – Marin: Carolina Camillo, Our Lady of Loretto School, Novato

Sixth Grade

Grand Prize: Leslie Leong, St. Matthew Catholic School, San Mateo

First Prize – San Mateo: Lavanna Maharjan, All Souls Catholic School, South San Francisco

First Prize – San Francisco: Elana Quetingco, School of the Epiphany, San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Reagan Shaffer, St. Patrick School, Larkspur & Beau Panzica, St. Anselm School, San Anselmo

Seventh Grade

Grand Prize: Sam Rivero, St. Isabella School, San Rafael

First Prize – San Mateo: Ayana Devgan, St. Catherine of Siena School, Burlingame

First Prize – San Francisco: George Arriola, Stella Maris Academy, San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Anna Culpert, St. Isabella School, San Rafael

Eighth Grade

Grand Prize: Bridget Semler, Nativity School, Menlo Park

First Prize – San Mateo: Kelley Crawford, St. Matthew Catholic School, San Mateo

First Prize – San Francisco: Sophia Cuperstein, St. Thomas the Apostle School, San Francisco

First Prize – Marin: Caitlyn Blackman, Our Lady of Loretto, Novato

High School

Grand Prize: Jillian Yujuico, St. Timothy Parish, San Mateo (Read the winning essay.)

First Prize – San Mateo: Fernanda Sanchez, St. Bruno CFF, San Bruno