Hilltop student wins national contest

SPARTA — Hilltop Country Day School fourth grade student Delsea Albanese won second place in the third through fifth grade category in the National Humane Education Society’s 2008/2009 Essay Contest. Delsea is the daughter of Edward and Donna Albanese of Andover. All of the fourth grade students at Hilltop submitted essays on the importance of saving an animal and the ways to accomplish this goal. The Humane Society received nearly 500 essay entries from students nationwide spanning kindergarten through 12th grade. Three winners and two honorable mentions were selected in each of the four grade categories — K through 2, grades 3 through 5, grades 6 through 8 and grades 9 through 12. Delsea received a prize package and is listed on the NHES Web site. Visit www.nhes.org and click on NHES Essay Contest under the Kids column to view the list of winners and quotes from their essays. Entering the essay contest taught the importance of kindness, responsibility, and respect for all living things. Vigeland included the essay contest in her curriculum in conjunction with the visit the students took in the fall to the Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association, Inc.