Winners of Rosa Parks Essay Contest Announced
Morgan Sweere of Conway, Brenna Gilstrap of Little Rock, and Alyx Vanness of Conway are Category Winners

Little Rock, AR - U.S. Representative Vic Snyder announced today that Morgan Sweere of Conway, Brenna Gilstrap of Little Rock, and Alyx Vanness of Conway are the three winners of an essay contest in honor of civil rights hero Rosa Parks. The winners, categorized by grade level, will receive a cash prize and their essays will be read by Congressman Snyder on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and entered into the Congressional Record.

“Rosa Parks was a truly remarkable woman and an inspiring activist who was committed to seeing African Americans move forward and achieving equal rights,” Congressman Snyder said. “I think it is important that our young people remember her many acts of courage. We received many exceptional entries. We thought Morgan, Brenna, and Alyx’s were the best.”

Morgan Sweere won in the first through sixth grade category, which addressed the theme “What Rosa Parks Means to Me” in under 250 words. She is in the fourth grade at Ida Burns Elementary School in Conway.  Her teacher is Kathi Sweere, and her parents are Daniel and Kathi Sweere. She will receive a $50 cash prize.

Brenna Gilstrap is the winner of the seventh through ninth grade category, which had a 500 word limit for the theme “What Rosa Parks Will Mean for My Children.” She is in the eighth grade at Horace Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle School in Little Rock, and her teacher is Ms. Rugenal Anderson.  She is the daughter of Cheryl and Keith Gilstrap.  Brenna wins a $100 prize.

Alyx Vanness won in the tenth through twelfth grade category, which had a 750 word limit for the theme “What Rosa Parks Will Mean for My Grandchildren.” Alyx is a sophomore at Conway High School East. Her teacher is Jeani Johnson, and she is the daughter of Mike and Lanette Vanness.  Alyx wins a $150 prize.

The contest was open to students who reside in the eight counties that make up Arkansas’s Second Congressional District: Conway, Faulkner, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, White, and Yell.