The Human Relations Council of the Hemet, San Jacinto and Menifee Regions presented the winners of its 21st annual Black History Month Essay Contest at the Center for Spiritual Living in Hemet, March 14. Open to middle school, high school, and college students in the areas served by the nonprofit, cash prizes were awarded to deserving writers.
HRC President Malcolm Lilienthal said the high school category contributed the most participants. All first-place winners received $250 each, second place earned $150 each, third place finishers took home $100 and those earning an Honorable Mention each got $75.
Middle School winners were 1st Place: Kadence Greenwood, Springs Charter School and 2nd Place: Lucero Vargas Cabrera, Hemet Dual Language Academy. High School category winners were, 1st Place: Brilie Gudmundsson, Springs Charter School; 2nd Place: Abigail McClymont, Western Center Academy; 3rd Place: Kristi Chadha, San Jacinto Leadership Academy; Honorable Mentions: Marissa Vargas, Tahquitz High School and Genesis Andrade, Hamilton High School. All three college age participants hail from Mt. San Jacinto College. Taking first place was Jenna Robinson, with Miranda Garcia placing second and Kamari Brooks earning a third-place finish.
Entrants were asked to choose a person of color who illustrates the triumph of the human spirit over circumstances and prejudices in order to build a life of accomplishment. The national theme of Black History Month 2025 was “African Americans and the Arts” which encompasses the fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression in which the African American influence has been paramount.
All essays were asked to be written as historical fiction. Students had to imagine living at the time of the chosen person and being acquainted with him/her and writing about them from this unique point of view.
Kristi Chadha said, “I wrote about Edmonia Lewis because she was a trailblazing sculptor who defied the odds as a Black and Native American woman in the 19th century. Her resilience in the face of racism and adversity, along with her ability to carve history and identity into marble, deeply resonated with me. Through her art, she reclaimed narratives that society sought to erase, much like how I use my own writing to give voice to overlooked stories. Her legacy of perseverance and artistic excellence continues to inspire me.”
“In addition, we added a $150 prize for the best presentation of their essay. The winners in each category who presented their essays in person were considered for this extra scholarship, and Kristi Chadha won for the high school category,” Lilienthal said. “My favorite part was the presentation portion. It was a great opportunity to see the creativity of the students and how they expressed their interpretations of the topics they studied. It’s always amazing to see how people bring their knowledge to life.”
Kristi plans to deposit her prize money into a scholarship fund she has started to support her smaller needs, such as dorm essentials and gas money as she was recently named a 2025 Cameron Impact Scholar, a prestigious award of a four-year, full-tuition, impact-driven undergraduate scholarship awarded annually to only 10 to 15 exceptional high school students.
One of Kristi’s favorite excerpts from her essay is: “One night, as we worked in silence, she spoke softly: ‘Do you think marble can capture the weight of the past?’ I did not answer right away. Instead, I watched her small, calloused yet powerful hands bring a woman’s sorrow to life in nothing more than a mere stone. I thought of my own past, my ancestors stolen across the sea, and of Edmonia’s mother, her people driven from their land. ‘I think,’ I said finally, ‘that marble is the only thing that they will not forget.’”
Lilienthal felt this year’s essays differed from past HRC contests in that he was hearing names he hadn’t heard before. “As an African American myself, it was exciting to see the contest approach the contributions of African Americans in the U.S. through the arts,” he said. “We moved away from mainstream figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks, which helped the students think outside the box. It was exciting to see their creativity in how they researched and expressed their ideas.”
Kristi was in charge of coordinating the San Jacinto Leadership Academy volunteers that helped out at the March 14 event. When Principal Mike Luna received an email from Lilienthal stated he needed some volunteers for the event, he immediately forwarded it to Kristi and Kaylin McWhorter and said he would prefer to have them “take charge of this matter.” Kristi said they contacted several students who could contribute and informed them about the opportunity to earn community service hours and letters of recommendation. She said the volunteers who showed up and worked very hard to contribute to a successful event were Edith Gonzalez, Armani Smith, Emaia Bazaldua, Kaylin McWhorter, and Andres Garcia.
“I really enjoyed the collaborative effort from all the organizations involved. San Jacinto Leadership Academy provided volunteers under the leadership of Kristi Chadha, and San Jacinto High School catered the event with finger foods and desserts. Starbucks provided coffee and cups for the winners, and Joyful Confections supplied snacks for everyone and Starbucks gift cards as a thank you. The Center for Spiritual Living graciously provided the venue,” Lilienthal said.
For more information, www.humanrelationscouncil.com.
