Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest Winners Announced for 2025
![The first, second, and third place winners of the Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1746545923/palmbeachschoolsorg/o7gyuv8a70glavsn62yi/HHMEssayWinners.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1746545923/palmbeachschoolsorg/o7gyuv8a70glavsn62yi/HHMEssayWinners.jpg","width":400}])
The winners of the 2025 Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest were selected by the School District of Palm Beach County based on their responses to the topic: “Who is your Haitian hero, and why?”
Congratulations to this year’s contest winners:
- Mike Fleurme, 12th grade - Boynton Beach Community High School (1st place). Read Mike’s essay
- Gerdelin Dumas, 11th grade - Glades Central Community High School (2nd place). Read Gerdelin’s essay
- Christ Berthale Saskia Etienne, 11th grade - Boynton Beach Community High School (3rd place). Read Christ’s essay
Additionally, the following three students will receive prizes as runner-ups:
- Ashley Lovinsky, 11th grade – Santaluces Community High School (4th place).
- Sabra Lamy, 10th grade – Seminole Ridge Community High School (5th place).
- Cardaryll Davis, 12th grade – Crossroads Academy (6th place).
The first place winner receives an award certificate, and $350. The second place winner receives an award certificate, and $150. The third place winner receives an award certificate, and $100. Fourth, fifth, and sixth place winners will each receive a $50 gift card.
Winners of the contest will be recognized during the Haitian Heritage Book Showcase and Essay Contest Winners Presentation at the Palm Beach County Main Library branch on May 10 at 2 p.m. The winners and runner-ups will receive their prizes at the event and the top three students will read their essays aloud.
The goal of the contest is to increase the self-esteem of Haitian students by promoting their history and culture, as well as encouraging them to conduct historical research about Haiti, its people, and their contributions to the history of the world. The essay contest began in 2004 as part of the District’s celebration of May as Haitian Heritage Month.
The Haitian Heritage Month activities and essay contest is sponsored by Gaskov Clergé Foundation, Educa Vision Inc., and Triple VMC Global Services. For more information about the Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest, contact Bito David – Communications and Engagement Specialist for the School District at bito.david@palmbeachschools.org, or by phone at (561) 254-6043.