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Maricopa County Board celebrates America 250 youth essay winners
Summary
At its May 4 informal meeting the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors honored three winners of an America 250 youth essay contest — Liberty Sharp (4th grade), Lyric Sharp (7th grade) and Veronica Rodriguez (high school) — who read essays about freedom, the flag and the American dream.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Monday honored three local students as winners of the county’s America 250 youth essay contest during an informal board meeting.
Supervisor Thomas Galvin, who led the county’s America 250 effort, said county staff reviewed about 320 submissions across three age groups and introduced the winners: Liberty Sharp, a fourth grader at Desert Cove Elementary; Lyric Sharp, a seventh grader at Shea Middle School; and Veronica Rodriguez, a junior at Valley Vista High School in District 4.
The contest was divided into three categories — grades 3–5, grades 6–8 and high school — with length requirements for each. Liberty Sharp read a one-paragraph piece that compared the United States to "a giant cookbook full of different recipes," saying, "Every person is like a special ingredient who brings their own traditions and special flavors to make America even better." Galvin praised the essay, noting the line "freedom is our most important ingredient." (Liberty Sharp)
Lyric Sharp read the middle-school entry "More Than Just a Piece of Fabric," which described the American flag as "so much more than just a piece of fabric" and a symbol of unity and shared history. Veronica Rodriguez, the high-school winner, read "More Than a Dream," an extended personal essay about immigration, family sacrifices and pursuing opportunities in the United States.
Board members praised the students’ writing and presentations. Vice Chair Lesko said, "Congratulations to all of you, and your future is so bright," and Supervisor Stewart described the readings as "amazing," noting the personal stories moved several family members in the audience.
The board asked the students and their families to remain after the program for brief acknowledgements before moving on to the next agenda item.
