Local Elementary Students to Address Issue of Bullying in Annual “Senator for a Day” Contest

Brooklyn- State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, 22nd District) today is announcing that the finalists have been selected in his annual “Senator for a Day” contest which this year was themed to address efforts to stop bullying in the neighborhood. Earlier this year, Senator Golden asked 3rd, 4th and 5th graders to participate in the contest by writing a 150-200 word essay starting with the phrase, “If I Were A State Senator For A Day.”

“This year, my annual essay contest focused on the issue of bullying in order to raise awareness and get students thinking about the problems that such behavior causes. I have reviewed a great number of outstanding essays which have been submitted and we have now selected our finalists. I am confident that the elementary students of my district are aware that in fact, bullying is wrong and must be stopped. We must continue to make efforts to teach anti-bullying lessons from an early age, so that we can try to give all of our students an opportunity to grow up in a world free of this hatred,” said Senator Marty Golden.

The winning essays will be presented by the students at a ceremony this Thursday, May 21, 2015 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Shore Hill Community Room, 9000 Shore Road. The students will be judged on originality, presentation and content. The finalists will read their essays before a panel of local leaders including attorney Peter Ferraiuolo, 68th Precinct NYPD Lieutenant Thomas Gulotta, and Brooklyn Eagle reporter Paula Katinas.

The first place winner will be invited with their class to spend a day in the State Capitol in Albany. The second and third places winners will each be awarded a U.S. Savings Bon.

The finalists are: Nicolette Lisetskaya (PS 52), Clara Cashman (PS 104), Hala Abuzahra (PS 170), Fiona Mei (PS 176), Nicole Chen (PS 176), Zachary Dabash (PS 176), Vicky Gordens (PS 185), Diana Stoupakis (PS 186), Michael Grefig (PS 186), Ridge Tawdrous (PS 186), Quishan Fan (PS 186), Mia Karimov (PS 200), Ameemah Klan (PS 222), Katrina Zhang (PS 238), Lucas Erazo (PS 238), Isaac Nasimov (Adelphi Academy), Lauren Borgia (Holy Angels), Madison Gonzalez (Holy Angels), Laila Mansour (Lutheran Elementary), Chloe-Marie Pauyo (Our Lady of Grace), Joseph Kinsella (Our Lady of Grace), Krista Rowans (Our Lady of Grace), Olivia Rinaldi (Our Lady of Guadalupe), Maria Dellosso (St. Edmunds Elementary). Shania Bradley (St. Edmunds Elementary), Dylan Hickman (St. Anselm Catholic Academy), Emily Horn (St. Anselm Catholic Academy), Fiona Costello (St. Patrick;s Catholic Academy), Jackie Kulaka (St. Patrick’s Catholic Academy), Caileigh Duggan (Visitation Academy), and Jenna Abi-Habib (Visitation Academy).