Two Tyler ISD students have been recognized as winners in Optimum’s 2024 Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest, which spans the company’s 21-state region. The contest, co-sponsored with Univision Foundation, honors students who demonstrate creativity, share heartfelt personal cultural connections with the Hispanic community, and explain what it means to them.
Catie Espiricueta, a junior at Early College High School, has been awarded the West region’s Grand Prize in the high school category. She won a $3,000 scholarship for her exceptional essay reflecting on a Hispanic dish and its significance in her life.
“This simple meal, chile de huevo, kept my mom’s family alive, and she carried the recipe with her from Guerrero to Tyler,” Catie stated. She reflected on how a simple meal represents the ingenuity of her family and her culture to create sustenance from simple ingredients. “Now, through this meal, I can taste her home country, her struggles, and her persistence.”
Catie plans to use the award money to help pursue her dream of attending The University of Chicago, where she will major in sociology or political science. She hopes to attend law school and become a lawyer one day.
In the middle school category, Ariana Jiselle M. from Caldwell Arts Academy has been named the West region’s runner-up out of 1800 essays submitted nationwide and received an iPad for her story about her grandparents' perseverance.
“My grandparents have shown me that if something is important enough to you, you will work hard to achieve success no matter the consequences. I am grateful that my grandparents impacted the world in a positive way.”
All Tyler ISD middle and high school students were invited to submit an essay. Optimum gave a special thank you to educator Jordan Greer of Hubbard Middle School, who was among five educators with the largest essay submissions from their students in the 21-state region.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.