TEAM Westport, in partnership with The Westport Library and the Town of Westport announced the winners of the Seventh Annual Teen Diversity Essay Contest on Thursday, August 13 at 7:00 pm. All winners were Staples students at the time of contest entry. The Awards Ceremony had been postponed in March from its original April 2 date due to the COVID crisis.

Sahiba Dhinsa was named the First Place essayist and awarded $1,000 for her work entitled “STEREOTYPES, STORIES, AND THE WORLDS WE CREATE”. Sahiba is a Staples graduate who plans to attend Cornell.

Sahiba Dhindsa - Stereotypes, Stories, and the Worlds We Create

Zachary Terrilion was named Second Place essayist and $750 for his work entitled 

“ STEREOTYPES: CRIPPLING STANDARDS ”. Zachary is a Staples graduate who plans to attend Oberlin. 

Terrillion - Stereotypes Essay

Victoria Holoubek-Sebok was named Third Place essayist and awarded $500 for her work entitled “BOMBSHELL”. Victoria is a rising junior at Staples.

Victoria Holoubek-Sebok - Bombshell

First Selectman Jim Marpe congratulated the essayists for their “equally moving and personal” works which “were not just some abstract discussions of concept but very personalized views as they applied to their lives”.

BIll Harmer, Executive Director of Westport Library welcomed the essayists and congratulated them all for their “well documented, clearly thought out and carefully written” essays. 

TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey reminded the finalists that “they are now part of a long tradition of not only beautifully written works but works that really make a difference in the way that the town operates”. 

Susan Ellis, TEAM Westport Essay Committee Chair and Dr. Judith Hamer, Chief Judge of Essay Evaluation also commended the essayists as they explained the objectives and processes under which the Essay Contest was conducted.

While the ceremony was staged with limited participation at the Library, it was webcasted as a virtual event to the Westport community. It may currently be watched at

https://www.crowdcast.io/e/team-westport-teen

In order to increase awareness and promote understanding in the arenas of race, ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ, and gender-presentation, the Annual Teen Diversity Essay Contest is open to students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 who attend Staples High School or another school in Westport, or reside in Westport and attend school elsewhere.