- Essay Home
- 2nd Place
- 3rd Place
- Credits
APH 150th Anniversary Essay Contest
Special Thanks
APH is grateful for the financial support received from PNC Foundation for this 150th anniversary activity. We also extend a heartfelt thank you to the professionals in the field of vision who served as judges for the essay contest.
Essay Contest Judges
Kelly Brown
Louisville, Kentucky
Betsy Burnham
Baltimore, Maryland
Beth Caruso
Perkins School for the Blind
Frances Mary D'Andrea
Decatur, Georgia
David Denotaris
Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
Lenore Dillon
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Michael Epp
Envision Rehabilitation Center
Jane Erin
University of Arizona
Marsha Geevers
Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Cay Holbrook
University of British Columbia
Debbie Lewis
Louisville, Kentucky
Denise Placido
Kentucky Office of the Blind (retired)
Jay Stitely
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
Anna Swenson
Herndon, Virginia
The Contestants
We commend everyone who challenged themselves to compose their thoughts about personal independence and how APH contributes to that goal. The award winners are distinguished with asterisks: *1st place, **2nd place, and ***3rd place.
Grades 3-5
Nicholas Acosta
Bronx, NY
Samara Adamson
Bronx, NY
Cricket Bidleman**
San Luis Obispo, CA
Jamal Collazo
Bronx, NY
Chase Crispin***
Blair, NE
Allison Feliciano
New York, NY
Angelique Garcia
Bronx, NY
Vanessa Luna
Brooklyn, NY
Oscar Montiel
Woodbridge, TN
Laura Nigon
Monument, CO
Precious Perez
Chelsea, MA
Erick Rosso
Bronx, NY
Mohamed Hadi Somji*
Sanford, FL
Michael Taylor
Westbury, NY
Mia Thompson-Bell
Tarrytown, NY
Thomas Till
Colorado Springs, CO
Nautica Whitehead
Des Moines, IA
Alexander Yang
Woodside, NY
Michelle Yongue
Oldsmar, FL
Grades 6-8
Christopher Amsberry
Colorado Springs, CO
Gregory Botting
Ionia, MI
Aaron Bradley
New York, NY
Felix Castro
Bronx, NY
Tyson Caton
Colorado Springs, CO
Thomas Christie
Bronx, NY
Michael Dinoski***
Queens, NY
Alex Follo*
Palm Harbor, FL
Eddie Garcia
Bronx, NY
Jake Hockenbury
Louisville, KY
Joy Pack**
Columbus, GA
Brigitte Radzisz
Whitesboro, NY
Monique Reid
Brooklyn, NY
Garrett Rush-Miller
Pueblo, CO
Quinita Thomas
Colorado Springs, CO
Grades 9-12
Tamilah Alexander
Irvington, NJ
Alex Calderon
Westbury, NY
David Carnes
Crestwood, KY
Salmaan Chaudhri
Evanston, IL
Jonathan Cord
Louisville, KY
Shaun Coughlan
Watertown, MA
Analis Dannen
Hurley, SD
Brandon Dunn
Crescent Springs, KY
Jason Earls
Louisville, KY
Minh Farrow
Watertown, MA
Ashleigh Gonzales
Chandler, AZ
Jesse Hockenbury
Louisville, KY
Beth Hope
Cynthiana, KY
Samantha Hubbard
Louisville, KY
David Leathers
St. Cloud, MN
Aaron Linson
Louisville, KY
Kia Lloyd
New York, NY
Jessica Martin
Louisville, KY
Sean Mealin
Greensboro, NC
Juan Munoz**
Houston, TX
Allison Nastoff
Brookfield, WI
Joshua Pearson*
Barre, MA
Ibraheem Shahadat***
Brooklyn, NY
Emily Steinson
Watertown, MA
Caitlin Walsh
Rockford, IL
Brandon Werner
Kalamazoo, MI
VI Professionals
Doreen Bohm*
Sartell, MN
Trina Cox
Nevada, IA
Lis Geoghegan
Cabot, AR
Barbara Hadnott**
Jackson, MS
B. Renee Meehan
Spartanburgh, SC
Jerry Miller
Jersey City, NJ
Nhung Hong Nguyen
Revere, MA
Fay Rahni
Baldwin Place, NY
Leyla Rodriguez
Bronx. NY
Julia Slaymaker
Wayne, NE
Janet Ulwick-Sacca
Gloucester, MA
Sue Wesco
Wabash, IN
Thomas Woodman***
Philadelphia, PA
Tamar Zilar
Collinsville, OK
Adult consumer
Kate Crohan
Arlington, MA
Regina Hageman
Chelsea, MI
Carla Hayes**
McMurray, PA
Carolyn Kearney
Frankfort, KY
Deborah Kendrick*
Cincinnati, OH
Kathleen Kincy
Topeka, KS
October Lowe
Butler, PA
Volly Nelson
Reidsville, GA
Kasondra Payne***
Logan, UT
Lynne Sadler
Phoenix, AZ
Cindy Sheets
Clarksville, IN
Marilyn Smith
Louisville, KY
Michelle Trainham
Austin, TX
APH Essay Contest Committee
Rebecca Snider, Chair
Public Affairs
Janie Blome
Field Services
Jayma Hawkins
Accessible Textbooks
Eleanor Pester
Research
Monica Turner
Field Services