2026 Social Justice Essay Contest Winners

The Ritenour School District is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Justice Starts with Us: Young Voices for Change Middle School Social Justice Essay Contest. The contest honors Mrs. Lisa Glover-Jones, a member of the Ritenour Board of Education and a lifelong advocate for education, equity and community empowerment.  The essay contest was created and organized by Hoech Middle School eighth grade English Language Arts Teacher Tisha McBride. 

Open to all sixth through eighth grade students in the district, the essay contest invited students to research and reflect on a social justice issue of their choice and propose thoughtful solutions for change. Students were asked to make a personal connection to their topic, include research or statistics, and offer a meaningful call to action. Essays ranged from 500 to 750 words and were evaluated based on clarity, creativity, organization, insight and strength of message. In keeping with the integrity of the contest, students were required to complete their essays without the use of artificial intelligence tools.

The contest provided students with an opportunity to explore important issues such as racial equity, gender equality, environmental justice, disability rights, immigration and more. 

This year’s top overall winners are:

• Yadier Bravo Gonzalez (6th Grade, Ritenour Middle School) - Read Essay

•  Aubrie Boner (7th Grade, Hoech Middle School) - Read Essay

Additional honorees include:

• Third Place: Diep Tran (7th Grade, Ritenour Middle School)
• Fourth Place: Ella Biggs (6th Grade, Hoech Middle School)
• Fifth Place: Genesis Oviedo (6th Grade, Ritenour Middle School)
• Sixth Place: Olivia Gill-Gray (8th Grade, Hoech Middle School)

First through sixth place winners were invited to read their essays at the Ritenour Board of Education work session on Thursday, March 5, 2026. All participants received certificates of participation in recognition of their thoughtful contributions.

Through initiatives like Justice Starts with Us, Ritenour continues to encourage student voice, critical thinking and civic engagement - empowering the next generation to lead with courage, compassion and purpose.