Lewes FD honors fire prevention essay and poster winners

An elementary school student has just done something that has not been done in Lewes in quite a while. 

Quinn Feist, a fifth-grader at Lewes Elementary School, not only placed first and second in the school-wide fire prevention essay contest, but also took first place in Sussex County. Her victory at the county level qualified her for the state competition. On Jan. 8, during a special ceremony at the Cheswold Volunteer Fire Company, Quinn was awarded second place by the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association 

The fire prevention essay and poster contests are organized and judged by members of the Lewes Fire Department and auxiliary. Auxiliary member Vince Talino and his wife Stephanie Talino led the efforts for this year’s contest. Vince was the chair, but credits Stephanie for doing a tremendous amount of work in the background. Winners received plaques Jan. 5 at a special ceremony in the Lewes Elementary auditorium. 

For the contest, each grade level is given a different topic, then students submitted posters (K-3) and essays (fourth and fifth grades) for judgment by the Lewes FD. Judges reviewed the submissions blindly with no names. Awards were given to the top three finishers, and this year Quinn Feist happened to have two of her essays chosen by the panel. Fourth-grader Sophia Zhou placed in first and third place for her essays. Multiple placement was possible because students submitted different entries for different classes.

The Talinos were assisted in managing the contest by Lewes FD lifetime members Phil Fitch, Caddie Joseph and Chubby Joseph. Vince said he cannot recall the last time a student in the Lewes FD contest placed first in the county-wide contest. A total of 18 students were honored for their work.

In the essay contest, the following students earned awards:

Fourth grade: First and third - Sophia Zhou; second - Lukas Wengryn

Fifth grade: First and second - Quinn Feist; third - Max Wray.

In the poster contest, the following students earned awards:

Kindergarten: First - Lily Armstrong-Watts; second - Claire Brittingham; third - Maleah Garrett

First grade: First - Lelembelis “Leila” Shenkle; second - Vera Bender; third - Bodhi Parks

Second grade: First - Madison Miller; second - Lilah Kellman; third - Madison Pratt

Third grade: First: Julietta Kurdes; second - Emerson Allen; third - Leah Manning.

Fire Prevention Month is in October, with Fire Prevention Week centered around the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of Oct. 8, 1871. Around that time, Lewes FD begins an outreach program in the local schools to teach children fire safety tips and get them acquainted with fire prevention equipment. The poster and essay contest cap off the week and are a way for students to demonstrate what they have learned.

Lewes FD encourages anyone interested in fire prevention or that would like a tour of the facility to call 302-645-6556.