Sherwood student takes home first place in Oregon mayor's poster contest

Prakrithi Balasubramanian , a fifth grader at Archer Glen Elementary School, has been named a first-place winner for her poster in the Oregon Mayors Association’s “If I Were Mayor…” civic awareness contest.

Each year, students statewide compete in three age groups using different media, describing what it would mean if they were the mayor of their city.

Posters are designed by fourth and fifth grade students, while sixth through eighth graders submit essays. At the same time, students in the ninth through 12th grades produce short videos.

The competition begins with a local contest conducted by mayors, with first-place winners entered into state-level competition in the spring. Members of an Oregon Mayors Association selection committee determine the winners.

This year, 25 cities participated at the local level with 45 entries forwarded to the state-level competition. As the first-place winner, Prakrithi and other first-place winners receive a check for $500.

That includes local first-place essay competition winner Leuca Wanford , a sixth grader at Lakeridge Middle School in Lake Oswego.

Area second-place winners and their respective categories include: Brittney E. Gil-Rosales , a fifth grader at Candy Lane Elementary in Oregon City, for her poster; Catania Fenstermaker , a sixth grader at Otto Petersen in Scappoose, for her essay; and Malia Stewart , a sophomore at Banks High School for her video. Each of those winners will receive a $300 check.

Leila Stewart , an eighth grader at Banks Middle School, was named a third place winner for her essay. She will receive a $100 check.

Founded in 1972, an estimated 75% of the state’s mayors are active members of the Oregon Mayors Association. OMA is recognized as an affiliate organization in cooperation with the League of Oregon Cities.