GILBERT

Around Our Schools: Higley High freshman gets 2nd in essay contest

The Republic | azcentral.com

AROUND OUR SCHOOLS

Submitted by Higley Unified School District.

HIGLEY HIGH

• Freshman Codi Kozloski won second place in this year's Anti-Defamation League Moral Courage Essay Contest. Codi was selected out of more than 500 entries.

Codi said it took two to three days to write her essay, plus revisions. She spent time researching the subject, "a historical or contemporary event in which moral courage was highlighted," and reworking her piece.

"I liked how it showed me what people are capable of doing, the modern-day example," Codi said.

This was the eighth year of the essay contest, put on by the Arizona Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League. Codi was encouraged to enter the contest by her Honors English teacher, Kerri Mathew.

Higley High seniors Josh Kahn, Brieana Moore and Tannia Estrada were part of the staff that created last year’s yearbook.

• The 2012-13 yearbook produced by students at Higley High School last year was named a "Best of Show" winner and took 10th place overall during the National Scholastic Press Association's High School Journalism Convention in San Diego earlier this month.

Three students who were on the "Excalibur" staff also won individual honors at the convention during "write-off" competitions. Junior Samantha Sandez received an honorable mention for cover and end-sheet design. Junior Codi Woolford received an honorable mention for inside page design and sophomore Mitchell Johnson received an honorable mention for logo design.

"The 'Excalibur' staff worked extremely hard during the 2012-13 school year to improve their skills and it definitely showed at competition. I'm extremely proud of them and cannot wait for the 2013-14 to be judged," said Andrea Goodwin, yearbook adviser.

WILLIAMS FIELD HIGH

Luke Petruzzi

• Senior Luke Petruzzi was honored at a recent Phoenix Suns game as one of 11 seniors selected by the Phoenix Suns Charities as a SunStudent Scholarship recipient.

Luke was selected from more than 200 applicants based on community involvement, letters of recommendation and an essay.

Luke plans to use his scholarship as he pursues a degree this fall at Princeton University. Earlier this spring, Luke signed a letter of commitment to play football at Princeton.