Twenty students from Akiva Academy participated in the YSU English Festival, earning recognition for their outstanding reading and writing achievements.
Now in its 48th year, this annual event hosted by Youngstown State University brings together nearly 3,000 middle and high school students from across Ohio and Pennsylvania. In preparation, students read seven selected books and take part in a variety of activities, including writing contests, book discussions, and creative workshops.
Several of the Akiva students were honored for their work in essay writing and other festival competitions: Rebecca Sakelaris - 1st Place Candace Gay Memorial Essay Contest Daniel Batista - Honorable Mention Jeremy Salvner Memorial Music Award
Rebecca Sakelaris - 3rd place Journalism Writing Contest Sophia Fonseca - 2nd Place Writing Games Mya Young - 2nd Place Not So Trivial Pursuit Jayden Sutton - 3rd Place Not So Trivial Pursuit Dani Ferrell - 2nd Place Connections Hayden Forestal - 3rd Place Connections Roei Sigler - 3rd Place Connections
“These accomplishments reflect months of preparation, strong reading and writing skills, and a genuine love of literature,” said Jodi West, English language arts teacher. “We are incredibly proud of all of our students for their dedication and the way they represented our school. Congratulations to everyone involved in this well-deserved recognition!”