The American Immigration Law Foundation announced the winners of the 11th annual "Celebrate America" Creative Writing Contest this week.
First place winner, Cameron P. Busby, 11, is a fifth grade student at Whitmore Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona. Busby, a Stephen King fan, beat out thousands of fifth grade students from around the country. According to Busby, the inspiration for his entry, "America is a Refuge," came from thinking about his ancestry, his immigrant friends and all the reasons why people might come to this country.
"I think a lot of immigrants are coming to this country," Busby said. "Some are not being treated as well as people who are citizens, but I think that for the most part America is a safe place. Our country is a little safer than other countries and lots of people come here for a better life. And I think that they do find it."
AILF sponsors the annual "Celebrate America" Creative Writing Contest in an ongoing effort to educate the public about the benefits of immigration to our society.
"The value of the annual essay contest is immeasurable," commented Ben Johnson, AILF'S Executive Director. "It gives America's youth the chance to express the finest of America's values. This year, Cameron's poem gives a voice to the voiceless. His poem brings to life the story of this great nation and its promise of freedom and hope for today's and tomorrow's newcomers. Cameron's words serve as a reminder of America's challenges and responsibilities of leadership in the 21st century."
According to Sharon Keown, Cameron's teacher at Whitmore Elementary, there are many challenges that arise in the classroom when teaching immigration, especially in Arizona.
"There is a lot of prejudice here in Arizona regarding illegal versus legal immigration," Keown said. "We integrate the topic of immigration into our social studies program at the beginning of the year and then I have my students look into their own family to see the immigration pattern there. We talk about the different countries everyone is from. But the immigration discussion really begins when I start explaining the naturalization process."
Keown, a teacher of 37 years, believes its Cameron's strengths as a writer, sensitivity to issues and quirkiness that make him an exceptional student and citizen.
"Cameron is an excellent writer," Keown said. "He's a very imaginative boy and very sensitive. I think that came out in his poetry. In fact, he wowed the whole class when he read the poem out loud. He's out there. But he's also concerned about a lot of serious issues. He's a deep thinker."
Other finalists include 2nd place winner, Ananda Ewing-Boyd of Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., 3rd place winner Kasey Bruce of Sheridan Elementary School in San Francisco, CA and honorable mention winner Noah Dearth of Our Lady of the Ridge School in St. Worth, Illinois.
As a grand prize, Busby and his family will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to AILF's Annual Benefit Dinner in Vancouver, Canada, on June 27, 2008. AILF will honor Busby who will read his winning entry aloud at the Benefit Dinner. Busby also receives a travel stipend, engraved plaque, his winning entry printed in the Congressional Record and a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.
This year's National Judging Panel for the contest included author and activist Mary Williams, Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Dave Eggers, Senator Ted Kennedy and author Gish Jen.
To read more on AILF's Fifth Grade Creative Writing Contest, including finalists' entries, a Q&A with Cameron Busby, judges' biographies and past winning entries, please visit AILF's website at http://www.ailf.org/awards/essaycontest/.
America is a Refuge
By Cameron Busby
Whitmore Elementary School
Tucson, Arizona
A small child holds out a hoping hand,
a crumb of bread,
or even a penny just to be fed
Hoping America is a refuge.
A child weeps over her mother's lifeless body,
the tears streaming down her face
Praying America is a refuge.
A child's torn sock blows in the wind,
as a bomb explodes the tiny sock catches a flame and begins to
burn to ash
Can America be a refuge?
A thirsty father and son seeking shade from the blazing sun,
all they want is a job
and for America to be a refuge.
America can be a refuge for you.
It can be a refuge for me.
I am glad that America is a refuge for all.
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