Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … Senior student Damaris Lopez-Morquecho from Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, was recently announced as the second-place winner in OUTLOOK Magazine’s third annual High School Student Writers Contest. She was awarded a $200 scholarship and a $100 Amazon gift card for her efforts.
The contest centered around the benefits of Adventist Education. Lopez-Morquecho explained why she felt she could write for the contest, “I’ve gone to Adventist schools all my life, and my experience has been great. I know that there are others out there who are wondering if they should go to an Adventist school, so I wanted to try to get the word out that it is actually really great and helpful.”
While this was not a class assignment, the contest was open to all students around the Mid-America Union. “My teacher, [Jordan Dubini] encouraged us to write for the contest, and even though I didn’t really think I would win, I thought it was worth trying,” Lopez-Morquecho continued; “And, when I got second place, I was really surprised and happy.”
Lopez-Morquecho credits her parents’ sacrifice to send her to Adventist schools. “My parents were so surprised when I won. When I called her [to say] that I won, she didn’t believe me. I had to translate the email to them [in Spanish] but they were so happy and proud. I’m just glad because, to be honest, this is for them. In my article, I talk about how my parents left everything for me, and I’m just grateful for them.”
Her article will be printed in the February issue of OUTLOOK.
—Jill Harlow is the Campion Academy communication director. Photo supplied.
