In May 2024, nearly 90 sixth-grade students in Grand Island showed their community pride and forward thinking when they wrote a 400-word essay on how they want to see the city grow and improve by the time they graduate. This was the first-ever "Mayor for a Day" essay contest, sponsored by the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Grand Island.
Students from Grand Island Public Schools, Northwest Public Schools, Grand Island Catholic Schools, and Trinity Lutheran School wrote about why they love living in Grand Island, but also detailed what changes they want to see by 2030, the year they will graduate.
The essays were judged on grammar, community pride, community vision, and action plan. Judges were Grand Island Chamber President Jamie Karl, City of Grand Island Communications Manager Spencer Schubert, Syngenta Seeds Administrative Assistant and Chair of the Chamber Connectors program Kris Naberhaus, and News Channel Nebraska/Telemundo Nebraska anchor/reporter Ana Ruth Lugo Mejia.
(Click on the student's name to read their essay.)
1. Saybel Raez Almaguer, Grand Island Public Schools
2. Jacob Theisen, Trinity Lutheran
3. Abigail Meyer, Trinity Lutheran
4. Kollin DeLaet, Northwest Public Schools
5. Tenleigh Sawyer, Grand Island Public Schools
6. Madhurisha Yuvaraju, Grand Island Public Schools
7. Simon Gustafson, Trinity Lutheran
8. Eleanor Koch, Northwest Public Schools