2023-24 High School Essay Contest Winners

The Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture at the University of Portland is pleased to announce the award recipients of the 2023-24 Essay Contest.

The prompt for this year’s essay was inspired by Surprised By Joy. Tell a true story about a time you found yourself experiencing genuine joy, even
though the circumstances leading up to that moment might have seemed to call
for just about any reaction EXCEPT joy.

Congratulations to the top winners:

Anya McGowan, "The Joy in Rediscovering Faith while Grieving" St. Mary's Academy (OR)
Hannah Ickes, "The Necessity of Celebration" St. Mary's Academy (OR)

Congratulations to those receiving honorable mentions:

Carlyle Mohr, "Pugs and Hot Cocoa" St. Mary's Academy (OR)
Rhea Truong, "What Is Joy To Me?" Blanchet Catholic HS (OR)
Grace Weber, "A Celebration of Life" Blanchet Catholic HS (OR)

Read the winning essays compilation HERE.

To all the faculty and counselors who help support this annual contest, please accept our sincere appreciation. We received many fine submissions from juniors at Catholic high schools all along the West Coast. Essays are judged anonymously, without names or school affiliations. Information regarding next year’s essay competition will be posted in the Fall of 2024.

Again, congratulations to the winners of the 2023-24 Garaventa Center High School Essay Contest!