Writing contest challenges students to ponder immigrants'importance
Sam Pagnucco, a fifth-grade student at Immaculate Heart Academy,wrote a poem about the struggles of American immigrants and theircontributions to the country.
'They make America beautiful. They make America different,' Sam,11, wrote in a poem that won first place in a contest sponsored bythe local chapter of the American Immigration Law Foundation.
The creative writing contest is meant to highlight the importanceof immigrants to the nation's history, said Gloria Goldman, animmigration lawyer who coordinates the annual contest.
'We are a nation of immigrants. There are people . . . whobelieve that there shouldn't be any immigration at all, but that'snot what America is based upon,' Goldman said. 'Everyone comes fromsomewhere.'
This year, the foundation received 215 entries from fifth-graders at 11 Tucson-area schools.
'It gives them a chance to do something creative and enter acontest,' Goldman said. 'We get a lot of poems and fictionaldiaries. Some kids talk about their own families, and some make upstories. It's whatever they want.'
Sam's poem refers to slaves who were brought to America, andimmigrants who arrived in later years and faced hostility due totheir ethnicity.
'Everything wasn't easy when they got over here. They had hardtimes and sometimes they weren't being treated fairly,' he said.
Sam says he believes people who immigrate to America now maystill be treated differently. 'People don't think of them as thesame,' he said.
The honor roll student said he writes poems occasionally -aboutfriends, school and holidays. 'I've been reading books about poetrymore, and think about it more,' he said.
Sam is also involved in sports: He runs, swims and plays tennisand basketball.
Last summer, he visited New York City on a family vacation. Whilethere, he visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and learnedabout immigration. The inspiration for his poem also came from lastfall's social studies lessons.
Sam was born in America, but he has ancestors from Poland,Germany, Ireland, Italy and Croatia.
Marilee Jones, a fifth-grade teacher at Immaculate Heart, saidSam had his poem ready the day after she gave the assignment to theclass.
'Not only had he written it, he had memorized it and he recitedit for me,' she said.
Jones said she was impressed by each piece written by herstudents.
'It really came from the heart, a lot of the things that theywrote,' she said. 'What helped is that we talked about theirancestry, where their grandparents and great-grandparents camefrom.'
The local chapter of the foundation will honor the winners of thewriting contest next month. The 10 students will all receive giftcertificates to a bookstore.
Sam's poem will be entered in the foundation's national contest.If his poem is among the top five, it will be entered into theCongressional Record. In 2000, a poem by fifth-grader Shayna Waltonof Marshall Elementary on the East Side placed among the top five inthe nation.
Contest winners
Here are the 10 winners of the American Immigration LawFoundation's creative writing contest. All are in fifth grade. Tolearn about next year's contest, call Gloria Goldman at 797-9229.
Sam Pagnucco, Immaculate Heart Academy
Spencer Bringham, Robins Elementary
Molly Gasch, Tucson Hebrew Academy
Brittany Langer, Tucson Hebrew Academy
Elise Ramirez, Robins Elementary
Vanessa Mayoga, Ocotillo Elementary
Sasha Loftis, Armstrong Academy
Kasondra Santaella, Immaculate Heart Academy
Courtney Freeh, Immaculate Heart Academy
Molly Manemann, Fruchthendler Elementary
Why I Am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants
- By Sam Pagnucco
Immigration changed our nation in many, many ways.
And some of which I just cannot explain.
First people came in a very, very painful way.
They came in chains with many, many pains.
They came as slaves, slaves with questions, questions with noanswers.
They questioned why this had to be.
They questioned why they couldn't be free.
After the War none of this could be.
So the slaves were all set free.
They rejoiced with glory.
They rejoiced with joy.
They rejoiced with happiness, glory and joy.
Then later on people came by choice, they came for freedom.
But they found no freedom, they found segregation.
All because of their looks and ethnic background.
They worked all day and got almost no pay.
They went on strike and earned their rights.
They started immigration, they started the whole entire thing.
Soon people came from here and there.
They came from almost everywhere.
Immigration changed our nation in many, many ways.
And some of which I just cannot explain.
I owe it all to the people who fought and suffered for theirfreedom.
They made America beautiful.
They made America different.
I owe it all to the people who fought and suffered for theirfreedom.
They made my life wonderful.
They made my life worth living.
They changed my life.
They made my life worth living.
Because of them,
I LIVE HERE!!!
Contact Susanna Caizo at 573-4176 or at slcanizo@azstarnet.com.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий