Whiz Kids: Monrovia High School Students Honored for Ethics Essays

Who: Monrovia High School students Mary Kennedy, 17, Erin Swanson, 17, Nick Bueno, 17, Amy Segal, 16, Giselle Moreau, 16, and Erica Flores, 15.

Accomplishments: These six Monrovia High School students were finalists in the Monrovia Rotary Club’s George R. Hensel Ethics Essay Contest.

Key to Awesomeness: Out of a pool of over 20 students, six students from Monrovia High School received special recognition from the Monrovia Rotary Club on March 15. Seniors Nick Bueno, Mary Kennedy, and Erin Swanson, who was also a finalist last year,  received certificates recognizing their achievements as placing in the top six finalists. The essays of the top three finalists were read by Noel Hernandez, a counselor at Monrovia High, the Honorable Bruce Marrs, a Superior Court judge in Pomona, and Mary Ann Lutz, the mayor of Monrovia.

Sophomore Erica Flores received a plaque for third place and a $50 prize. In her essay, which was read by Noel Hernandez, Flores wrote about a time when she failed a class but chose to work harder and seek extra tutoring, rather than copy others’ homework or cheat. She also wrote about a time in grade school when she chose to turn in someone’s lost money, even after a school staff member encouraged her to keep it, out of a sense of ethical responsibility. Throughout her essay, she stressed the importance of hard work, being genuine, and putting others before yourself.

Junior Amy Segal received a plaque for second place and a $100 prize. In her essay, which was read by the Honorable Bruce Marrs, she stressed the importance of demonstrating ethics through actions. She recalled a time in grade school when she gave in to a friend who helped convince her to compromise her ethics for a candy bar. Although she never received any outward discipline for her behavior, the experience taught her that it is not only important to have the knowledge of what is right and wrong in human behavior; it is also important to stick to your ethics and follow through with them in your actions.

Junior Giselle Moreau received a plaque for first place and a $250 prize. Her essay, read by Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, addressed two important figures in her life: her father, and Nelson Mandela. Moreau wrote of the strong moral values that her father and her family instilled in her, her admiration for Mandela’s rare qualities as a person and as a leader, and how she tries to apply her ideals to her life as the Captain of the soccer team, as an older sister, and as a friend. She also stressed the importance of people achieving things in ethical ways through fortitude and working together. In addition to receiving the top prize from the Monrovia Rotary Club, Moreau will be able to compete at the district level with winners from other schools for a $3,000 prize.