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Community Education Center In the News

"A Magical Place in this World"

Published on Tue, May 15, 2012

"There is a magical place in this world,

Where people come to look for freedom and happiness."

Those are the opening lines from a winning poem by Illinois fifth grader and champion gymnast Alexander Tymouch. The poem took the top spot in the 2012 American Immigration Council's annual "Celebrate America" fifth grade creative writing contest. Read more...

Published in the The San Diego Union-Tribune

California 5th-Grader Wins Writing Contest on Immigration

Published on Fri, Jun 03, 2011

The American Immigration Council has announced Maya Young Wong of Altadena, California as the winner of its 14th Annual “Celebrate America” Creative Writing Contest. Maya’s entry entitled "My Grandfather Ben"was chosen out of more than 6,500 entries from fifth graders across America. As the grand prize winner, Maya will attend the American Immigration Council’s annual benefit in San Diego, California where she will read her winning entry.

Published in the New America Media

National Winner of the 14th Annual Creative Writing Contest Announced

Published on Thu, Jun 02, 2011

Young poet Maya Young Wong of Altadena is announced as the national winner of the  14th Annual “Celebrate America” Creative Writing Contest hosted by The American Immigration Council for her poem "My Grandfather Ben.”

Published in the Altadena Blog

Fifth Graders Explore America as a Nation of Immigrants

Published on Thu, Jun 02, 2011

The annual Creative Writing Contest sponsored by the American Immigration Council provides fifth grade students an opportunity to explore the history immigration in the U.S. and write poems or short stories about the experiences of immigrants. Students submit their pieces to local chapters of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and each chapter then enters the local winning entry into the national competition.

Published in the Enrichment 4 Kids

California 5th Grader Wins National Immigration Essay Contest

Published on Wed, Jun 01, 2011

The American Immigration Council is pleased to announce the winner of its 14th Annual “Celebrate America” Creative Writing Contest. Maya Young Wong of Altadena, California, won for her poem entitled “My Grandfather Ben.” Maya’s entry was chosen out of more than 6,500 entries from fifth graders across America. As the grand prize winner, Maya will attend the American Immigration Council’s annual benefit in San Diego, California where she will read her winning entry.

Published in the Jornal News Service

American Immigration Council Announces 2011 Creative Writing Contest Winner

Published on Wed, Jun 01, 2011

The American Immigration Council is pleased to announce Maya Young Wong of Altadena, California as the winner of its 14th annual "Celebrate America" Creative Writing Contest. Maya's poem entitled "My Grandfather Ben"  describes the life of her grandfather coming from his Guangzhou village in China to America. Her entry was chosen out of over 6,500 entries from 5th graders across the U.S. As the grand prize winner, Wong will attend the American Immigration Council's annual benefit in San Diego.

Published in the The Hill

Northern California Celebrates America

2011 Winners Announced in Bay Area

Published on Wed, Jun 01, 2011

Angela Yang, 11, Pacifica resident and student in San Francisco, won with her story of an alien's first impression of the United States

Published in the Pacifica Patch

Minnesota and Dakotas Chapter Winner of the Creative Writing Contest

Published on Tue, May 31, 2011

Anna Christian, a fifth grader at the Windom Spanish Dual Immersion School, is the regional winner for the Minnesota and Dakotas chapter of the Creative Writing Contest hosted by the American Immigration Council. Her winning essay reflects on the diversity brought to the United States by immigrants. This is the first time Windom students have participated in the essay contest, although they hope to continue their participation in coming years.

Published in the Southwest Minneapolis Patch

San Francisco Fifth Grader Wins Northern California Creative Writing Contest

Published on Thu, May 26, 2011

Angela Yang, a fifth grade student in San Francisco, won 1st place in the annual American Immigration Council's Northern California Chapter contest. Her short story, written from the perspective of an extraterrestrial being who arrives in America, won from over 680 entries from 42 schools in the area. Angela and other winners were recognized at an event in San Francisco at the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Lodge where she recited her entry. 

Published in the Pacifica Patch

Santa Clara Valley Creative Writing Contest WInner

Santa Clara Valley 2011 Creative Writing Contest Winner

Published on Fri, May 20, 2011

During the Santa Clara Valley American Immigration Lawyers Association meeting the winner of the local American Immigration Council's 14th Annual "Celebrate America" Creative Writing Contest was honored and read his winning entry.

Published in the ImmigrationProf Blog