Charlotte Area Kids to Write About Their Dads

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee, Urban Restoration, YMCA of Greater Charlotte, and other area businesses are excited to celebrate the students, fathers, and educators who are participating in the First Annual Charlotte-Mecklenburg Father of the Year Essay Contest. Over 1,500 students submitted essays entitled, “What My Father Means to Me.” The Essay Contest culminates November 16^th with the Charlotte Fatherhood Town Hall Meeting at the Time Warner Cable Center. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Father of the Year Essay Contest
Father of the Year Finalists

Houston “Pete” Coleman
When Shannae Dorsey, an 11th grader, thought about the most influential father figure in her life, she thought of her “Uncle Pete,” Houston Coleman. She wrote, “He is the type of person who doesn’t give up on anything or anyone easily, who believes in hope and that everyone has some good in them, even when they don’t see it themselves.” Houston finds ways to be highly involved in his niece’s life—going to the movies, supporting her in her activities, and just being there to discuss life and any issues that may come up. Education is a major point of emphasis for him, and he’s often available to help with homework, review her work, and offer some suggestions and encouragement. But he’ll tell you that the most important thing he does is “show her love.” 

L.C. Furtick
When asked to write about what his father means to him, 1st grader Raheem Jackson mentioned activities with his Grandpa Furtick—playing football, playing games, going swimming, playing with the dog and going for car rides. But Grandpa clearly knows that there’s a lot more going on than just having fun together. He’s also involved in Raheem’s school work and attends his events to demonstrate that he’s there for him. Preparing his grandson for life is an everyday activity that includes teaching him routine skills, good manners, respect for elders, and to say his prayers every night.

Kulukuru-Krishna Murthy
For Sanjana Murthy, a ninth grader, her father’s dedication to family was demonstrated during a recent hardship, when her grandfather had a stroke. Her father, Krishna, flew to Boston to help care for and reassure his mother and other family members. “I realized then,” Sanjana wrote, “that my dad always puts others before himself.” Writing an essay about him is just one of the ways she plans to show more appreciation for her dad. Krishna himself is trying to keep pace being the only male in a house with three women. He makes it a priority to eat dinner every evening with them and listen to the events of their day. Most importantly, he says, he strives to make them feel safe and secure. Krishna and his wife Radhika have been married for 25 years. 

Terry Wallace Jr.
As the father of six children, it’s a challenge for Terry Wallace to stay close to each one, but he’s purposeful about it. He has regular father/son and father/daughter nights and is always interested in their dreams, their fears and doubts, and he does his best to encourage them in those areas. A deeply spiritual man, Terry takes very seriously his responsibility to be a spiritual leader for his children and “be an example of love, leadership, true manhood and responsibility.” In his essay about his father, Terry’s son Demarcus wrote, “He is always taking time out of his day to spend time with us.... He teaches me and my brother what it is to be a man.” Terry and his wife Melanie have been married 15 years. 

Reggie Westbrook
Reggie Westbrook says that he and his son, 14-year-old Shamaury, enjoy similar recreational interests, so many times it seems like they’re brothers. But Reggie also emphasizes the importance of his son being a hard worker and a respectable young man. He believes in being open and honest with his three children: “Nine times out of ten, whatever they are going through is something you probably did. So teach them not to make the mistakes you made.” When writing about his dad, Shamaury described some of the handyman skills he has learned from his dad, and added, “Using these skills he has given me, I’m able to make money the right way.”

Congratulations to the
2008 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Father of the Year
Essay Contest Winners!

 WINNERS 

       Grade     Student                                         School

1         Omari Alexander                            Highland Renaissance Academy

2         Carson Jones                                 Winget Park Elementary

3         Kei-Onna Kelly                             Hidden Valley Elementary

4         Hannah Perkins                             Olde Providence Elementary

5         Nicholas Cournoyer                      David Cox Elementary

6         Kelvin Jones II                              Southwest Middle

7         Andie Stephens                             Southwest Middle

8         Carrie Brocoan                             Southwest Middle

9         Daniel Creel                                  Ardrey Kell High School

10       Mounica Gummadi                        Ardrey Kell High School
11       Shannae Dorsey                            Olympic IBCS

12       Reynoll Peralta                              Hopewell High

                
                                                  RUNNER UPS 

        Grade    Student                                         School

1         Raheem Jackson                            Highland Renaissance Academy

1         Nia Mitchell-Swygert                     David Cox Elementary

1         Reema Patel                                  David Cox Elementary

1         Marquese Pittman                          David Cox Elementary

2         Kateri Meade                                Barringer Academic Center

2         Tamaira Orage                               Barringer Academic Center

2         Tamaiya Price                                First Ward Elementary

2         Cameron Welles                            Beverly Woods Elementary

3         Tyler Ashwood                             Winget Park

3         Anna Daniels                                 Beverly Woods Elementary

3         Dariana Esparza                            Hidden Valley Elementary

3         Kyle Griffiths                                 Polo Ridge Elementary

4         Morgan Anderson                         Winget Park

4         Robert Bishop                               Olde Providence Elementary

4         Kelsey Flores                                Crown Point Elementary

4         Carlena Neely                               Tuckaseegee Elementary

5         Courtney Bethes                           David Cox Elementary

5         La’Von Peterbark                         David Cox Elementary

5         Grace Redd                                   Hawk Ridge Elementary

5         Christopher Sampson                    Highland Renaissance Academy

6         Joshua Bryant                               Southwest Middle

6         Rylina Dey                                    Southwest Middle

6         Solomon Juwon Gardner              Southwest Middle

6         Via Savage                                    Davidson IB Middle

7         Jordan Murdock                            Southwest Middle

7         Antonia Scott                                Southwest Middle

7         Tamaya Walker                             Southwest Middle

7         Demarcus Wallace                        Quail Hollow Middle

8         Darius Bennett                              Southwest Middle

8         Jessica Marcus                             Southwest Middle

8         Kyle Medlin                                  Southwest Middle

8         Kevin Vergara                              Southwest Middle

9         Shamoury Akil Westbrook           Olympic High

9         Rene Medal                                  Olympic High

9         Sanjana Murthy                            Ardrey Kell High

9         Christie Torres                              Ardrey Kell High

10       Rebecca Cook                             Ardrey Kell High

10       Ramon Esteves III                        Olympic High

10       Alex Galindo                                Olympic High

10       Caitlin McDermott                        Ardrey Kell High

10       Thanh Nguyen                              Olympic High

11       Isis Perry                                      Butler High

11       Tyler McMahan                            Olympic High

11       Christopher Ware                         Rod of God Academy

11       Da’Vonte Wilson                          Rod of God Academy

12       Latishia Bright                               Hopewell High

12       Anna Eargle                                  Olympic High

12       Kristen Kawecki                           Olympic High

Every Student who participates in the contest will receive a certificate of merit and voucher to purchase two tickets for just $10 to the November 16 Charlotte Bobcats game.

Essay Winners in each grade category (60 in all) win two free tickets to the Bobcats game on November 16, recognition at the Fatherhood Town Hall Meeting before the Bobcats game, recognition during the Bobcats pregame show, a coupon for 2 Free Donuts from Dunkin Donuts and the chance for his or her nominee to be considered for the 2008 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Father of the Year Award.

The school that submits the most essays will receive a special certificate presentation at the Fatherhood Town Hall Meeting along with 6 VIP tickets and use of a suite for the Nov. 16 game.  The school will also receive a Dads and Doughnuts Party with Rufus – the Bobcats mascot, a start up kit and pizza night from WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students). 

Sponsors: