SAN ANTONIO \u2013 The Battle of Flowers Association announced the winners of its Texas history essay contest at the Alamo on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s contest asked public and private school students to prepare an essay under a theme of exploring Texas\u2019 \u201clawmakers and lawbreakers.\u201d<\/p>\n
First-place students won a new MacBook computer, second-place students won $500 and third-place students won $250. <\/p>\n
Each of the top three schools received funding to support their Texas history curriculum, a news release said. Those funds ranged from $2,000 to $750, respectively.<\/p>\n
Students will also be able to participate in this year\u2019s parade. <\/p>\n
James Joe, a student from Great Hearts Forest Heights, wrote his paper about Texas General John Pershing. <\/p>\n
Pershing helped a group of Chinese refugees living in Mexico enter the country after they had helped his troops. Years later, they were officially granted legal residence in the state. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe people he saved actually went on and created my church, and I thought it would be fun to integrate what I experienced into my essay,\u201d Joe said. <\/p>\n
The winners from each school and their winning essays can be seen below:<\/p>\n
Public school winners<\/p>\n
First place: James Joe – Great Hearts Forest Heights<\/p>\n
Essay title: \u201cArchitects of Justice & Agents of Chaos: Pershing\u2019s Chinese\u201d<\/p>\n
Teacher: Raymond Kite<\/p>\n
Headmaster Paul Gustowski<\/p>\n
Second place: Virginia Mendez – Rogers College Prep Middle School, San Antonio ISD<\/p>\n
Essay title: \u201cLawmakers and Lawbreakers: Barbara Jordan\u201d<\/p>\n
Teacher: Gabriel Jauregui<\/p>\n
Principal: Dr. Moises Ortiz<\/p>\n
Third place: Evan Majorka – Great Hearts Forest Heights<\/p>\n
Essay title: \u201cFrank Hamer, a Ranger who brought law to Texas\u201d<\/p>\n
Teacher: Raymond Kite<\/p>\n
Headmaster Paul Gustowski<\/p>\n
Private school winners<\/p>\n
First place: Devi Hernandez – St. Matthew Catholic School<\/p>\n
Essay title: \u201cThe Truth Behind the Bars\u201d<\/p>\n
Teacher: John Drye<\/p>\n
Principal: April Hallfrisch<\/p>\n
Second place: Calissa Perales – Mount Sacred Heart Catholic School<\/p>\n
Essay title: \u201cLawmaker of Texas: Sam Houston\u201d<\/p>\n
Teacher: Sorayda Alejandro<\/p>\n
Principal: Angie Garcia<\/p>\n
Third place: Sarah Bryand – The Christian School at Castle Hills<\/p>\n
Essay title: \u201cThe \u2018Good\u2019 Bad Guys\u201d<\/p>\n
Teacher: Natasha Mankin<\/p>\n
Principal: Justin Russell<\/p>\n