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Vista Higher Learning<\/p>\n
Ra\u00edces Winner Kelsey McIntyre<\/p>\n Ra\u00edces Finalists<\/p>\n Lehigh Valley student wins Ra\u00edces contest, judged by Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, Cecilia Vega, and a jury spanning journalism, diplomacy, philanthropy, media, and history.<\/p>\n WASHINGTON, D.C., DC, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2026 \/EINPresswire.com<\/a>\/ — Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino<\/a>, the Embassy of Spain<\/a>, and Vista<\/a>, the K\u201312 division of Vista Higher Learning, announced Kelsey McIntyre, a student at The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, as the winner of the first Ra\u00edces national essay contest. Created by Spanish journalist Guillermo Fesser, the contest invited middle and high school students nationwide to explore Hispanic history and culture in their own communities as part of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. <\/p>\n In her winning essay, \u201cMasa y Memoria: How Casey’s Empanadas Feed More Than Hunger,\u201d McIntyre writes about her cousin Casey, who makes empanadas by feel, the way his mother and grandmother taught him. The essay reflects on how food carries culture, language, and memory across a scattered family, closing on sobremesa, the time spent lingering at the table after a meal. <\/p>\n McIntyre was recognized on Oct. 3 at an awards ceremony at the Embassy of Spain during National Hispanic Heritage Month. She and her teacher, Sophia Betancourt, will each bring a companion on a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to Spain in summer 2027, visiting Madrid, Seville, M\u00e1laga, and sites linked to U.S. independence. <\/p>\n The contest received just shy of 400 submissions nationwide in English, Spanish, or both. Judges included World Central Kitchen founder Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, 60 Minutes correspondent Cecilia Vega, Telemundo Chairman Luis Fern\u00e1ndez, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain Julissa Reynoso, and Pulitzer Prize\u2013winning historian Ada Ferrer. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes the finalists’ essays so powerful is their specificity. Hispanic heritage isn\u2019t something distant or abstract; it is present here and now,\u201d said \u00c1ngeles Moreno Bau, Ambassador of Spain to the United States. \u201cThese students didn\u2019t have to search in history books. They simply looked around their communities and families and told their stories.\u201d <\/p>\n Each finalist, along with their teacher and school, received a certificate and commemorative silver coin from the Spanish Royal Mint. Each finalist\u2019s essay will be included in Fesser\u2019s upcoming publication, \u201cHispanic Roots of the USA.\u201d<\/p>\n Fesser, author of \u201cConoce a Bernardo de G\u00e1lvez \/ Get to Know Bernardo de G\u00e1lvez,\u201d organized Ra\u00edces to encourage young people to think critically about the often overlooked contributions of Hispanic communities to the nation\u2019s founding. <\/p>\n \u201cThis year\u2019s Ra\u00edces finalists show what happens when students see themselves reflected in our shared American story,\u201d said Estuardo Rodr\u00edguez, President and CEO of Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino. \u201cWhen young people document the history and culture around them, they\u2019re not just learning from the past; they\u2019re helping carry it forward, ensuring these stories are seen, valued, and preserved for future generations.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cThe finalists\u2019 essays are a cultural exploration and understanding brought to life through language and literacy,\u201d added Arturo Castillon, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Vista. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to have partnered on Ra\u00edces to give students the opportunity to showcase their personal experiences that bring our country\u2019s rich Hispanic American history to life.\u201d<\/p>\n The finalists, including McIntyre, were invited to the awards ceremony to celebrate their essays and the stories they uncovered in their own communities. <\/p>\n The other 14 finalists were: <\/p>\n Mary Boakye-Yiadom, Westford Academy, Westford, Massachusetts ###<\/p>\n Sponsors About Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino About the Embassy of Spain, Washington, D.C. About Vista Press Inquiries: K-12 Division \n Legal Disclaimer:\n <\/p>\n \n EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability![\"Ra\u00edces](\"https:\/\/www.einpresswire.com\/image\/large\/1207405\/kelsey-mcintyre.png#920x1403\")
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Alondra Villalobos Sanchez, Harry D. Jacobs High School, Algonquin, Illinois
Ana Monteiro, Kent Place School, Summit, New Jersey
Maria Vallejo Aquino, East Forsyth High School, Gainesville, Georgia
Ziqi Yang, The Calverton School, Huntingtown, Maryland
Julissa Perez Baeza, Xavier College Preparatory, Phoenix, Arizona
Audr\u00e9e Alexis Nieves Corrales, Centennial Academy Charter School, Atlanta, Georgia
Manuel Torres Mendez, Port Richmond High School, Staten Island, New York
Oula Ghani, Gateway High School, Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Isabella Urgilez, Kent Place School, Summit, New Jersey
Renata Kindle, North Rockland High School, Thiells, New York
Gabriel Ardila, Jackson-Reed High School, Washington, D.C.
Emma Onyenwere, Mansfield Lake Ridge High School, Mansfield, Texas
Mia Boan, Cooper City High School, Cooper City, Florida<\/p>\n
Ra\u00edces was made possible thanks to the support of the Embassy of Spain in the United States, Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, and Vista, with corporate sponsorship from companies committed to the Hispanic community, including Goya Foods, Hisdesat, Iberia, Repsol, Banco Santander, Real Casa de la Moneda (F\u00e1brica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre), Telemundo, Fundaci\u00f3n Gomaespuma, and Fundaci\u00f3n Consejo Espa\u00f1a-Estados Unidos.<\/p>\n
The Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino strives to create a museum in our nation\u2019s capital to educate, inspire, and encourage respect and understanding of the richness and diversity of the American Latino experience within the U.S. and its territories by highlighting the contributions made by Latino leaders, pioneers, and communities to the American way of life. The FRIENDS organization is not affiliated in any way with the Smithsonian Institution.
www.americanlatinomuseum.org<\/a> <\/p>\n
The Embassy of Spain in the United States plays a central role in strengthening the deep and historic bonds between our two nations, rooted in more than five centuries of shared history and democratic values. It fosters broad bilateral cooperation across key areas such as defense, trade, science, education, and culture. Equally important, the Embassy promotes meaningful people-to-people connections\u2014supporting the Spanish-speaking community, encouraging academic exchange, and advancing cultural engagement that brings our societies closer together. For more information, visit https:\/\/www.exteriores.gob.es\/Embajadas\/washington\/<\/a> <\/p>\n
Vista, the K\u201312 division of Vista Higher Learning, is a leading publisher and edtech provider solely dedicated to language learning. For more than 25 years, the company has partnered with educators to create and deliver innovative print and digital solutions that empower diverse learners, develop language and literacy, and promote intercultural understanding. Vista remains committed to its mission of transforming lives through language and literacy. For more information, visit www.VistaHigherLearning.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n
Isabel@intersectpublicaffairs.com
press@usahispanicroots.com
media@vistahigherlearning.com<\/p>\n
Vista Higher Learning
media@vistahigherlearning.com
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