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