2023 Respect Life Essay Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners in the 34th Annual Respect Life Essay Contest. This year’s contest focused on the theme “Life is a Blessing—Venerable Dr. Jerome Lejeune.” Students responded to questions about the doctor’s work around Down syndrome and how that relates to Catholic values around human life.

Winners will be celebrated at a Mass and awards ceremony on Sunday, April 30.

Please see the complete list of winners below.

Kindergarten

Grand Prize: Jin Lucas Lorenzana, Holy Angels School

First Prize, San Francisco: Zoe Pang, St. Monica School

First Prize, San Mateo: Winter DeWitt, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Mia Benedetti, St. Isabella School

First Grade

Grand Prize: Joel Isaac Manzano Borneo, All Souls School

First Prize, San Francisco: Seraphine Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Mateo: Aarav Acharya, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Austin Bolanos, St. Anselm School

Second Grade

Grand Prize: Mateo Galvez, St. Isabella School

First Prize, San Francisco: John Lee Cottrell, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Mateo: Skylar Prion, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, Marin: Julia Spagna, St. Isabella School

Third Grade

Grand Prize: Nina Feldman, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, San Francisco: Jocelyn Cortez da Silva, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Mateo: Lauren Kim, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, Marin: Siena Withey, St. Isabella School

Fourth Grade

Grand Prize: Jesus Alvarez, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Francisco: Miguel Arriola, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Mateo: Alexa Manalastas, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Jonny Hayden Fahy, St. Anselm School

Fifth Grade

Grand Prize: Natalie Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Francisco: Oriana Rayner, Notre Dame des Victoires

First Prize, San Mateo: Daniel Gonzalez, Holy Angels School

First Prize, Marin: William Pass, St. Isabella School

Sixth Grade

Grand Prize: Audriana Rivera, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Francisco: Elijah Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Mateo: Maggie Bala, Our Lady of Angels School

First Prize, Marin: Axel Patterson, St. Isabella School

Seventh Grade

Grand Prize: Julia McAuliffe, St. Patrick School

First Prize, San Francisco: Brooklyn Bunn, Epiphany School

First Prize, San Mateo: Stefanie Monzon, St. Matthew School

First Prize, Marin: Jackson Gamble, St. Isabella School

Eighth Grade

Grand Prize: George Arriola, Stella Maris Academy

First Prize, San Francisco: Nathaniel Block, Stella Maris Academy & Christopher Jerry, Notre Dame des Victoires

First Prize, San Mateo: Justin Chan, St. Matthew School & Alyssa Trehan, St. Catherine of Siena School

First Prize, Marin: Quan Ha, St. Isabella School & Samantha Ariyoshi, St. Isabella School