The 2022 Alma Rutgers Defining Diversity Contest

Despite trying times and uncertainty, Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman encourages us to let moments of challenge inspire action. Reflect on her words and the events of 2020. Consider your personal experiences, the current social, political, and/or environmental conditions that exist in your community, your town, your country, and your world. How are you giving purpose to the “ache” that you have experienced and/or have been experienced by so many? How do you know that it has not been endured in vain? Please demonstrate your broad understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Students are invited to submit writing pieces, works of art, or multimedia that represent their reflection.

Sponsor Organizations

YWCA Greenwich The First Selectman’s Diversity Advisory Committee

The Greenwich Youth Services Bureau

Prizes provided by Greenwich Department of Human Services & Greenwich Fellowship of Clergy

Judges


John Breunig
Editorial Page Editor,
The Advocate, Greenwich Time
Contest Judge since 2014

Garfield Charles
Assistant Dean, Diversity Club Advisor
Greenwich High School

Sarah Darer Littman
Author, Columnist,
Writing Teacher and President of Greenwich Pen Women
Contest Judge since 2014

Shelly Karlen
Writing Teacher, Literacy Specialist
Contest Judge since 2014

Margaret Walsh
Librarian, Greenwich Library
Contest Judge since 2010

Art Submissions


إنساني (human) – Giovanna Gazal

1st Place

إنساني (human)

Giovanna Finamore Gazal
Greenwich High School
11th Grade


CelineFongArt1 – Sum Ling Fong

The Heart Feels Though The Mind Forgets

Celine Fong
Rye Country Day School
10th Grade


Consequently…

Consequently…

Alana Ukperaj
Sacred Heart Greenwich
10th Grade


Dehradun Temple

Hugo Levine
Greenwich High School
9th Grade



Family Standing

Angelica "Jelly" Bisagni
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


The Watchful Eye

Jackson Signsen
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Namibia: Railroad of The Sand

Jasmine Scott
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Armenian Genocide

Connor DeVries
Greenwich High School
9th Grade



3rd Place

The Dirty War: Genocide in Argentina

Emily Duarte
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


2nd Place

Inflicted Upon Ourselves - Dehumanization: Us vs. Them

Chloe Moskowitz
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


The Sacrifices Of The Common Man

Kaitlyn Raiente
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


They Changed Us

Samantha Tessar
Greenwich High School
9th Grade



Their Legacy Lives On: The Native American Genocide

Arden Rodriguez
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Remembrance: The Bosnian Genocide

Benjamin Sirignano
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


We Will Not Be Left Behind: The Bosnian Genocide

Michael Lombardi
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Namibia: The Forgotten Genocide

Aedan Browning
Greenwich High School
9th Grade



The Tall Tree Stands

Sebastian Luksic
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Left Behind: The Syrian War

Maya Antipov
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Once Again: Rohingya Genocide in Myanmar

Sasha Peterson
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


D9E65A4B-CB34-464E-8DB2-D9490AFB1B50 – alana ukperaj

Out with the old

Alana Ukperaj
Sacred Heart Greenwich
10th Grade


Mixed Media Submissions


1st Place

Community change agents

Paige Pray
Greenwich High School
12th Grade


Tied 2nd Place

Ukrainian Conflict Memorial

Benjamin Adovasio
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Tied 2nd Place

Uyghur Muslims Genocide

Lorenzo Pugliese
Greenwich High School
9th Grade

Writing Submissions


Breakfast Obituary

Eva Marder
Greenwich High School
12th Grade


3rd Place

What’s so Good about Bye

Gabrielle Wheeler
Sacred Heart Greenwich
11th Grade


The Story of Them

Noah Barrett
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


Always

Julian Ravina
Greenwich High School
9th Grade



2nd Place

Village Raid

Justin Qu
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


1st Place

Unswallowed Emotion

Emily Elizabeth Cabanero
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


The Lucky Ones: Argentina's Dirty War

Benjamin Tirana
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


No Justice for the Dead: The Japanese Invasion of China

Maxwell Jessen
Greenwich High School
9th Grade



Interview with Mr. Indifference

Shreya Prabhu
Greenwich High School
9th Grade


The Shameful Western Response to the Rwandan Genocide

Aubrey Niederhoffer
Greenwich High School
10th Grade