Clarke Senior Awarded Kindle Fire Netbook for Winning Essay

W.T. Clarke High School senior Lady Velasquez earned a Kindle Fire Netbook for her award-winning essay on Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina.

Her writing placed third in Optimum’s sixth annual Power to Learn “Hispanic Heritage Month” essay contest.

Velasquez was recognized Wednesday by Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, Clarke Principal Timothy Voels, Teacher Georgia Rotella and Optimum representatives at an awards ceremony at the high school Wednesday.

“I’d like to congratulate Lady Velasquez on her perceptive, well-written essay and wish her well in all of her future endeavors,” said Supervisor Murray. “America’s diversity has always been one of our country’s greatest strengths and the many contributions from Hispanics throughout the years have long played an integral role in the building of our nation. I would also like to thank Cablevision for creating the Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest that provides young people with an opportunity to recognize the many contributions made by generations of Hispanic Americans.”

Optimum’s Power to Learn and Olympusat, Inc. sponsored the essay contest for students in grades 6-12 in Cablevision service areas in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Students were required to submit an original essay that answered in 500 words or less, “Name a Latino, past or present, with whom you would choose to spend a day and explain why.”

Prizes include a $2,500 cash scholarship (grand prize), an Apple iPad (first prize), a laptop computer (second prize) and a Kindle Fire (third prize). Olympusat Inc. is the provider of such Spanish language channels as Latele Novela, ¡Sorpresa!, Momentum, CubaPlay and TV Chile, all of which are available on Optimum TV en Espanol programming service.

“Cablevision is delighted to sponsor its Hispanic Heritage Month student essay contest for the sixth consecutive year,” said Jen Ostrager, Cablevision's vice president of public affairs. “We congratulate Lady Velasquez on her winning essay.”

Olympusat senior vice president of distribution Nick Febrizio added, “Once again, Olympusat is pleased to partner with Cablevision on this education initiative that encourages students to explore the rich history and cultural traditions of Latinos. It also provides students with an opportunity to win a terrific prize and recognition within their community and among their peers.”

For more information about Power to Learn, Cablevision’s education initiative, visit www.powertolearn.com.