The American Immigration Council Announces the Winners of the 15th Annual 'Celebrate America' Fifth Grade Creative Writing Contest

For Immediate Release

May 15, 2012

Washington D.C. - The American Immigration Council is pleased to announce that the first place winner of our Community Education Center's 15th Annual 'Celebrate America' Fifth Grade Creative Writing Contest is Alexander Tymouch of Chicago, IL. His poem entitled America, the Magical Land was chosen from among thousands of entries nationwide.

There is a magical place in this world,
Where people come to look for freedom and happiness.
They sail for weeks through the swaying ocean,
When they finally arrive at the mesmerizing new land,
They try to keep their own ways at first.
They celebrate the same holidays,
Wear the same clothes,
And eat the same food.
They do everything the same as before,
But eventually…
To read the rest of the winning entry click here.

Second place winners are Nakita Ranjit Nair of Austin, Texas and Emma Snavely of Seattle, Washington. Honorable mention goes to Aedra Li of San Francisco, California and Samantha Nelson of St. Louis, Missouri.

Alexander Tymouch will read his poem and receive his award at the American Immigration Council’s Annual Benefit in Nashville, TN this summer. 

The celebrity judges include New York Times editorial writer Lawrence Downes, philanthropists Jan and Marica Vilcek, author Peter Coan, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Gerda Weissman Klein.

21 Chapters of the American Immigration Lawyers Association participated in the contest. The top entry from each participating Chapter was judged by a panel of immigration experts who chose the top five sent to the celebrity judges. Special thanks to the Chapters whose coordinators make this program possible. To view the names of each states' winners click here.

2012 marks the American Immigration Council’s 15th Annual Creative Writing Contest, a national contest for fifth grade students sponsored by the Community Education Center. The contest provides youth with an opportunity to learn more about immigration to the U.S. and to explain, in their own words, why they are proud America is a nation of immigrants. 

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For more information contact Michele Waslin at mwaslin@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7521.