Cape students excel in Coast Day essay contest

Rehoboth and Love Creek elementary students earned top prizes in the annual statewide Coast Day essay contest.

Love Creek fifth-grader Alana Fan won first place for her narrative information essay on how a young man named Andy witnessed a tornado and vowed to help rebuild his community.

“What inspired me is that I love nature,” she said. “Either good or bad, it’s still a part of nature.”

Rehoboth Elementary student Eliza Evans earned second place for her essay on coastal flooding.

“I chose that because we are surrounded by water,” Eliza said, noting flooding can cause mold to grow in homes.

Receiving honorable mention was Zach Day of Rehoboth Elementary, who wrote his essay about hurricanes. 

Zach noted his own neighborhood has taken proactive steps to control damage caused by hurricanes by running its power lines underground.

The contest themed Weathering the Storm was sponsored by the Delaware Sea Grant Program and the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment.

Marine Education Specialist David Christopher, who coordinates the contest for Delaware Sea Grant at the University of Delaware, said he received more than 50 essays from students across the state. 

Students were asked to describe an extreme weather event that happens in Delaware, including tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes and nor’easters, how they affect communities, and how their family can prepare for them. 

A panel of judges evaluated the essays on content, organization, grammar and spelling, and originality and creativity. Winners received T-shirts and bookstore gift cards.