Free Daily Headlines

Community News

Set your text size: A A A

Apple Valley student one of four essay contest winners from across U.S.

Christopher Hernandez-Montero

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 16, 2022

A student at Apple Valley Middle School is one of four grand prize winners from across the country in the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest sponsored by Optimum and TelevisaUnivision.

Christopher Hernandez-Montero received a $3,000 cash scholarship for his winning essay. Optimum hosted a live virtual celebration event on Dec. 15 to recognize Christopher for his outstanding accomplishment.

Optimum invited students across the company’s 21-state footprint to share in 500 words or less the story of a person or group of Hispanic heritage who have kept their community connected to one another, to their culture or to those outside their community. Other winners were from New Canaan, Connecticut; Rockville Centre, New York; and Jessieville, Arkansas. Prizes were also awarded to a dozen finalists in both the high school and middle school categories.

Additionally, for the first time, Optimum and TelevisaUnivision recognized the educators who encouraged their students to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by submitting an essay. Special gifts were awarded to teachers who sponsored the highest number of essay submissions from their students.