The winners of “The Battle for the Ballot,” a statewide competition to help Tennessee students "engage and reflect upon the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment and Tennessee’s unique role in its ratification," have been announced. The winners come from around the state. Awards ranged from Apple iPads for those in elementary school to scholarship money in a TNSTARS 529 account for those in middle school and high school.
The winners are:
High School Documentary:
- First Place: Cristine Chen, L&N STEM Academy, Knox County, Knox County School District, Derek Griffin (Sponsoring Educator) - $10,000 Scholarship
- Second Place: Saksham Saksena, Houston High School, Shelby County, Germantown Municipal School District, Candace Plaisance (Sponsoring Educator) - $6,000 scholarship
- Third Place: Albert Koenig, Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet, Davidson County, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Jennifer Sychareune (Sponsoring Educator) - $4,000 scholarship
High School Speech
- First Place: Eden Carnes, Disco Institute, Homeschool, Elithe Carnes (Sponsoring Educator) - $10,000 Scholarship
- Second Place: Haylin Ownby, Sevier County High School, Sevier County, Sevier County Schools, Rebecca Byrd (Sponsoring Educator) - $6,000 scholarship
- Third Place: Trissha Sivalingam, Collerville High School, Shelby County, Collierville Schools, Anna Graham (Sponsoring Educator) - $4,000 scholarship
Middle School PSA
- First Place: Elizabeth Cook, Grassland Middle School, Williamson County, Williamson County Schools, Susan Oldham (Sponsoring Educator) - $5,000 Scholarship
- Second Place: Ridham Ohri, Grassland Middle School, Williamson County, Williamson County Schools, Michael Bechtel (Sponsoring Educator) - $3,000 Scholarship
- Third Place: Mary Morreale, Freedom Middle School, Williamson County, Franklin Special Schools, Tonya Marlin (Sponsoring Educator) - $2,000 Scholarship
Grades 3-5
Sadie Call, McFadden School of Excellence, Rutherford County, Rutherford County Schools, Jennifer Austin (Sponsoring Educator) - IPad
Isabella Plachy, Whitwell Elementary School, Marion County, Marion County Schools, Chirstina Rogers (Sponsoring Educator) - IPad
Margarita Krystal, Eakin Elementary School, Davidson County, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Kelly Bulbulkaya (Sponsoring Educator) - IPad
Grades K-2
Emmalyn Yow, Clarksville Christian School, Montgomery County, Sara Harper (Sponsoring Educator) - IPad
Sadie Buchanon, Rossview Elementary School, Montgomery County, Clarksville Montgomery Schools, Heather Smith (Sponsoring Educator) - IPad
Noah Bush, Rossview Elementary School, Montgomery County, Clarksville Montgomery Schools, Heather Smith (Sponsoring Educator) - IPad
Announced in January, the Battle for the Ballot Competition was sponsored by The Official Committee of the State of Tennessee Woman Suffrage Centennial, which includes the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee State Library and Archives, the Tennessee State Museum, the First Lady’s Office and the Tennessee Secretary of State's office.
"’The Battle for the Ballot’ competition was created with the notion that what happened 100 years ago has significant relevance today, especially to Tennesseans," said the Committee spokesperson. "In order for students to engage with history and make that connection, and make it relevant to their current schoolwork, the competition needed to hit grade-specific standards. We're proud of the results, from the entries we received to the engagement from students and educator sponsors. It was an incredible way to commemorate the centennial of women's suffrage in the state."
Scholarship money for the competition donated by the family of Randy Boyd, Bill and Crissy Haslam, the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, East Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee at Martin, Tennessee Tech University, the Secretary of State’s office and Austin Peay State University. Sponsoring teachers of student winners also received a gift card.
For additional information about the Tennessee Women's Suffrage Centennial, including the upcoming reenactment at the Capitol on Aug. 18, visit tnwoman100.com. Inquiries about the competition and events can be made to education@tnwoman100.com.