Dr. Gertrude A. Barber
$1,000,000 Challenge

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Essay contest winners are congratulated by teachers and principals. From left are, Kacey Bengel; Dr. Maureen Barber-Carey, executive vice president at the Barber National Institute; Lamajanay Lyons with her assistant principal, Dana Gilmore; Mark Harper with his teacher, Patricia Sherbin; Meaghan Breski with her teacher, Paula Pacinelli; John Barber, back row, president of the Barber National Institute; Samantha Sutton with her teacher, Mary Kearney; Aiden Morrow; Avery Michels with his teacher, Sonja Meehan, and principal, Chris Paris; Alex Kruszewski with his principal, Deborah Laughlin, and teacher, Marge Burchard.

Essay Contest Winners

The Barber National Institute is pleased to announce the winners of the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Essay Contest, in honor of the founder’s 100th birthday celebration this year. Over 720 students in grades 3-12 wrote an essay about “How One Person Can Make a Difference,” the theme of the contest.

In going along with the theme, students could choose from one of two topics: “tell about a friend or family member who has a disability or challenge they have overcome” or “Tell about someone you know who has made a difference in the lives of others.” The essays were divided and judged by age groups - elementary, middle and high school - and award recipients are:

First Place Winners

Mark Harper, 4th grade at Edison Elementary
Meaghan Breski, 6th grade at St. James School
Alex Kruszewski, 9th grade at Mercyhurst Prepatory School

Honorable Mention Awards

Lamajanay Lyons, 4th grade at Diehl Elementary
Samantha Sutton, 4th grade at Jefferson Elementary
Avery Michels, 6th grade at Wattsburg Middle School
Aiden Morrow, 8th grade at Harding
Mickaela Zaffino, 9th grade at Collegiate Academy
Kacey Bengel, 9th grade at Fort LeBoeuf High School

The winners, along with their parents, teachers and principals, attended an award ceremony to honor their achievement on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at the Barber National Institute. A prize of $100 was be presented to the first place winners and $25 to honorable mention recipients.

This essay contest was just one of many ways that the Barber National Institute is celebrating Dr. Barber’s milestone birthday. In addition, a $1,000,000 challenge is currently underway to carry on Dr. Barber’s vision and mission to bring hope and opportunity to children and adults with disabilities.

The Barber National Institute is committed to providing current and accurate information to assist parents and professionals in meeting the challenges of autism and other developmental disabilities. We are also committed to crediting our sources, and all articles are attributed to the author, website, or other resource. We believe that the dissemination of reliable information is important, and would ask anyone using our original material to provide proper credit.

12/15/11 02:16

Dr. Gertrude A. Barber $1,000,000 Challenge

Dr. Gertrude A. Barber
$1,000,000 Challenge