Two sixth graders from The Imagine Classical Academy at Indigo Ranch received national honors for essays related to character education. Nick Bannister and Leiloni Hartley earned a second place award and an honorable mention, respectively. Several hundred students from more than 75 schools across the country entered the writing competition. Leaders of Imagine Schools in Arlington, Va., reviewed the essays.Both students wrote about author Julia Alvarez and her struggle with racism while growing up. Alvarez fought back with kindness and is attributed to quotes such as, “The point is not to pay back kindness; but to pass it on.””Even the slightest act of kindness can change a person’s day – and sometimes their life,” Bannister said. The students will be honored by the school and receive books about character and values.
