Student winners hailing from St. Rose Grammar School, Belmar, were recognized recently for their original works in the regional Catholic Daughters of the Americas Poetry Competition.
Using the 2019 theme derived from Psalm 40, “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will,” two separate divisions submitted poems – Division I for grades four and five, and Division II for grades six through eight. This annual CDA regional event is sponsored by the CDA Court St. Elizabeth of Avon. According to Michaline Manno, CDA poetry chairman, the judges chose the first prize poem by Ann Maria Moloney, “The Lord’s Will,” for further competition at the State level. First prize poems at the state level are submitted to the National Competition.
All Division I winning submissions came from the fifth grade; first prize was awarded to Ann Maria Moloney; second prize went to Teresa Ross and third prize to Jerome Mendoza-Gonzalez. Finalists included Bianca Brown, Isabella Alvarado, Finn Cashman and Alexis Alvarado.
In Division II, first prize was won by eighth grader Meg Silva; second prize was awarded to seventh grader Maria Testa, and third prize to Kathleen Garley, sixth grade. Finalists included Sophia Raphalides, Caroline Conforti, Maeve Brooks and Isabella Costello.
Certificates and monetary awards for the SRGS winners and finalists will be given out after the 9 a.m. Mass May 3 in St. Rose Church, Belmar.