BASIS DC Student Wins National Contest

Congratulations to Alessandra Selassie, a fifth-grader at BASIS DC, for being the first national Letters About Literature Essay Contest winner from the District of Columbia! She was awarded $1,000 for her letter to Laura Ingalls Wilder about how her Little House on the Prairie books helped her understand her own father's experience growing up in Eritrea.

More than 50,000 students from across the United States entered the contest, which is open to students in grades 4-10 and is nationally sponsored by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. Alessandra was awarded her check by Dr. John Cole, director of the Library of Congress’ Center for the Book and Ginnie Cooper, the Chief Librarian for the District of Columbia, and was also congratulated by DC Mayor Vincent Gray.

“One of the most important things that the District does is give our young people the best education possible, said Mayor Gray.  "Public libraries play an important role in supporting education by helping children discover the joy of reading and helping teachers find programs to enrich the classroom experience.  Today we not only celebrate Alessandra's award; we also celebrate the partnership between our schools, our Library and the Library of Congress."

 

Congratulations to Alessandra Selassie, a fifth-grader at BASIS DC...