Longview High School senior Nadira Akilo has earned top honors in Eastman’s sixth annual Black History Month Oratorical Contest, securing the first-place prize of $1,500 for her compelling essay, "Eyes on the Sky: The Story of Dr. George Carruthers."
Nadira’s essay highlighted the groundbreaking work of Dr. George Carruthers, an American space physicist and engineer whose ultraviolet camera/spectrograph was a key component of NASA’s Apollo 16 mission in 1972.
The annual contest, hosted by Connect, Eastman’s Resource Group (ERG) for Black and African American team members and allies, encourages students to explore and celebrate the contributions of Black and African American pioneers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It also serves as an opportunity for students to refine their writing, communication, and public speaking skills.
As this year’s first-place winner, Nadira will also have the honor of presenting her essay at the Friends of Partners in Prevention Unity Luncheon on February 19 in Longview.
Longview ISD is proud of Dre Mitchell, who also represented Longview High School and earned third place in the competition. Congratulations to all the finalists for their outstanding work!
1st Place – Nadira Akilo, Longview High School ($1,500)
2nd Place – Morgan DeMasellis, Hallsville High School
3rd Place – Dre Mitchell, Longview High School
4th Place – Mitchell Eggerman, Pine Tree High School
5th Place – Zachary Daniel, Trinity School of Texas
Longview ISD celebrates Nadira, Dre, and all of this year’s contestants for their dedication to honoring Black history and excellence in STEM.