Emma Lavallee, Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Catholic School eighth grade student, won third place and $150 in the 29th annual Maryknoll student essay content. The national essay theme was “Recognizing Violence and Promoting Peace.” Lavallee was presented with the award by Maryknoll Father Doug May on June 6, 2018 at the school’s awards Mass.
Lavallee addresses the role racism has played in causing violence throughout American history and laments that racist attitudes still exist. “The God I believe in cares for all people equally,” she says. She offers these words of wisdom: “To end racism, we must confront it in ourselves, in our communities and in our nation.”