Whiz Kids: A Jackson Elementary Essay Contest Winner
4th-grader Jada Luna Diaz won the district’s annual Cesar Chavez Essay Contest
For this week Whiz Kid’s we turn to a student who won an Cesar Chavez Day essay contest that was held to honor the life of Latino labor leader and farm activist.
The annual Pasadena Unified School District art and essay contest saw increased participation this year from students thorougout the district, according to PUSD spokeswoman Binti Harvey.
It was developed in collaboration with Latino Heritage, the organization that promotes Latino arts, history and heritage in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley
● Whiz Kid’s Name
Jada Luna-Diaz
● Whiz Kid’s School
● Whiz Kid’s Age
Diaz is in 4th grade.
● Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment
Diaz’s essay was selected as the top essay in the 2nd to 5th grade category. Because the contest was district-wide Diaz edged out many participants from schools all over PUSD.
● Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness
From Diaz’s principal Rita Exposito:
"Jada is in Mr. Villela’s 4/5 combination class, and she credits him with teaching her to write well. She says, ‘If it wasn’t for Mr. Villela, I wouldn’t have won the contest.’
In her essay, Jada wrote about Cesar Chavez’s work with the United Farm Workers Union. She was impressed with the sacrifices Chavez made on behalf of the poor farm workers and how he organized boycotts and hunger strikes.
The youngest of four sisters and a resident of Altadena, Jada’s favorite activities are reading and going to school. She states, ‘I have very good friends at Jackson. One of them is Andrea, who was very supportive while I was writing my essay.’