Here are the winners of Florida’s Black History Month student contests

FLORIDA — Winners of Florida’s Black History Month student essay and art contests were announced last week by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Students from grades K-3 were invited to participate in the art contest and students in grades 4-12 were invited to participate in the essay contest. The theme for this year was Celebrating African-American Contributions to Florida’s History.

“Congratulations to all of the contest winners, many of whom looked to our state leaders, like Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris, to celebrate their contributions to Florida,” said DeSantis.

“Learning about the history of our country and the contributions of people who make our world better is the best way to help shape the future.”

The Black History Month Art Contest asked students in grades K-3 to submit original artwork based on this year’s theme. Two winners were chosen in the art contest.

The Essay Contest had three winners in grades 4-12 who will receive a 4-year Florida College Plan scholarship, provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

Student Art Contest Winners

• Amara Kantaria, MacFarlane Park Elementary Magnet School, Hillsborough County
  Amara is a first-grade student who submitted her artwork titled Mary in the Mirror.
• Zuri Jackson, Allen Park Elementary School, Lee County
  Zuri is a third-grade student who submitted her work titled Future Donald’s Legacy.

Student Essay Contest Winners

• Aryanah Sahai, A.D. Henderson University School, Palm Beach County
  Aryanah is a fifth-grade student who submitted an essay titled An Amazing Woman that Uplifts Her Community about Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, Shevaun Harris. Aryanah believes that education is a gift that she values and that it is important to help your community.
• Kurukulasuriya Nishini, Fernando, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School, Lee County
  Kurukulasuriya is an eighth-grade student who submitted an essay titled Shevaun Harris: A Voice for Many. Kurukulasuriya aspires to be a pediatric oncologist and has had a poem published in the American Library of Poetry.
• Sidjourney Knight, Praise Temple Christian Academy, Lake County
  Sidjoureny is an eleventh-grade student who submitted an essay titled Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Her Contributions to the Black Community. Sidjourney aspires to attend law school and volunteers at a food pantry.