Students notch a clean essay sweep Three...

Students notch a clean essay sweep

Three juniors at Marina High School swept a countywide essay

contest, the school’s career center announced Monday.

Janice Kan won first place, and Christina Baker and Austin Kelley

tied for second.

The competition was sponsored by the RAISE Foundation, an Orange

County-based group that works to prevent child abuse. The contest

topic was “Children Blossom with Love.”

The winning students are all taught by English teacher Don Hohl,

who assigned the project to students in his Advanced Placement

English classes.

Janice’s essay focused on her father and how adults need to help

children grow up well.

“She wrote about her dad, who is her hero,” Hohl said.

Janice is slated to be honored March 31 at the Bowers Museum in

Santa Ana. Another ceremony, scheduled for April 21, will feature

Janice along with Christina and Austin at home plate before the start

of an Angels game.

For her essay, Janice won $100, as well as an A for the quarter,

Hohl said.