Chagrin Falls High School and Middle School students made an impressive showing at the 11th Ohio K-12 Chinese Essay Contest, with 10 high school students and 8 middle school students receiving awards for their exceptional writing skills and cultural understanding. The prestigious competition, sponsored by the Ohio Association of Teachers of Chinese (OATC), recognizes excellence in Chinese language education across the state.
Among the honorees, Jack Shein and Gavin Chan received Gold Awards, the highest distinction in the competition. Ten students earned Silver Awards: Dominick Pantuso, Eric Nemunaitis, Robert "Robbie" Rugh, Melanie Brosnan, Caroline Slain, Jennah Hamdan, Madison Livingston, Henry Mitchell, Maia De La Cruz, and Zoe Nesbitt. Additionally, six students received Honorable Mentions: Logan Geiger, Sarah Walker, Jack Lesieutre, Rory Rohde, Lucas Gips, and Oliver Gambrill.
Dr. Ning Zhang, President of the Ohio Association of Teachers of Chinese, praised the students' accomplishments and the quality of language instruction at Chagrin Falls High School.
"Warmest congratulations on the remarkable success of your students in the 2025 Ohio Essay Contest!" said Dr. Zhang. "Their outstanding achievements are a true reflection of your passionate guidance, dedication, and commitment to excellence in teaching."
The annual contest challenges students to demonstrate their Chinese language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and creative writing abilities. Participants submit original essays in Chinese, which are evaluated based on language accuracy, content development, and cultural insights.
This recognition highlights Chagrin Falls High School's strong commitment to global education and language acquisition. The school's Chinese language program continues to prepare students for success in an increasingly interconnected world by fostering linguistic skills and cultural understanding.
The award-winning essays showcase not only the students' language proficiency but also their ability to engage thoughtfully with Chinese culture and contemporary global issues.
School administrators expressed pride in the students' achievements and appreciation for the dedicated language teachers who support their learning journey. The success in this statewide competition reflects the high standards of Chagrin Falls High School's world language department and the students' dedication to mastering Chinese language skills.
