Environmental essay display in place at Rise Up Coffee

The vastness of space, the closeness of suffering, the loss of biodiversity, the interconnectedness of all life, the healing power of nature, fearful premonitions of loss and soaring flights of empowered optimism were among the themes in the essays submitted by Delaware high school students for the third annual RENEW essay contest.

Reflective Essays on Nature, Earth and their Wonders, hosted by Delaware Interfaith Power & Light, is a platform for high school students to write about the unique role of youth regarding climate action, growing concerns over environmental justice, and their personal sense of connectedness with the natural world.

First-, second- and third-place winners are all students in Sussex County. Melisa Velasquez-Zunun, a junior at Sussex Central High School, was awarded the first-prize scholarship of $2,000 for her essay on environmental justice. 

Tanisha Patel, a freshman at Delmar Senior High School, was awarded the second-prize scholarship of $1,500 for her essay on youth climate action.

Rudra Patel, also a Delmar Senior High School freshman, was awarded the third-prize scholarship of $1,000 for his essay on his sense of connectedness with nature.

Artistic displays featuring essays and quotes from student submissions are available for viewing at Rise Up coffee, 502 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

For more information, go to delawareipl.org.