Winners Announced in St. Helens If I Were Mayor Student Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2022

St. Helens, Ore. – The St. Helens City Council announced the winners of the 2022 If I Were Mayor student contest at the Council’s April 6, 2022, regular session meeting. In the 4th to 5th grade category, Ellie Luke (4th grade) won first place and Everette Fantus (4th grade) took second place. In the 6th to 8th grade category, Taylor Rose Parsons (6th grade) won first place and Olivia Fantus (7th grade) took second place. In the 9th to 12th grade category, Hayden Stram (10th grade) won first place and Katelyn Wells-Callow (10th grade) won second place.

The If I Were Mayor student contest is an annual contest held in partnership with the Oregon Mayors Association (OMA). Students submit entries in one of three categories: a poster competition for grades 4-5, an essay competition for grades 6-8, and a digital media presentation for high school students.

First place winners received $150 cash and second place winners received $50 cash. All participants are invited to a lunch with Mayor Rick Scholl and other City staff to talk about their ideas and to learn more about how local government works. Each participant also received a certificate and swag bag thanks to donations from the City of St. Helens, St. Helens Public Library, and Friends of the St. Helens Public Library. First place winning entries from the St. Helens contest will be sent to the state competition for a chance to win a prize worth $500.

This year, the City of St. Helens received four poster entries, three essay entries, and two digital media presentations. Students addressed a number of issues in their submissions, including providing additional resources for those experiencing houselessness, encouraging the community to be more active and healthier, reducing pollution, creating a community garden, and increasing job opportunities.

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For further information regarding the If I Were Mayor student contest, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.