Native Daughters of the Golden West, Lomitas Parlor No. 255, Los Banos, sponsors a local essay contest every year for students in grades 4-7. The topic for 2022 was “What Makes California Wonderful”. Each student writes a 250–500-word essay on whatever it is about California that makes it wonderful to them. At the local level of the contest there are four winners per grade with a cash award and certificate. 1st place wins $20.00, 2nd place $15.00, 3rd place $10.00, and Honorable Mention $5.00. The first-place winner at each grade level is then sent to the State Level where they are judged at a yearly State conference held by the Native Daughters of the Golden West. This year, the top three awards at the State level were awarded to students from Los Banos who attend Our Lady of Fatima School. The State level winners were awarded their checks at a recent assembly at St. Josephs Catholic Church. The local contest chairman, Tina Accardo, presented checks for 1st Place $100.00 to Joseph Frietas, 2nd Place $75.00 to Avery Vierra, and 3rd Place $50.00 to Ivey Silveira. Lomitas Parlor has been sponsoring this contest for over 30 years and works very closely with Our Lady of Fatima School and other Elementary Schools in Los Banos. The Essay contest is held yearly during the month of February and awards at the local level are handed out in late March, or early April. Students from Los Banos almost always place at the state level. This says a lot about the students’ abilities to express their love for California and the teachers for giving them the tools to write a great essay.
