Local fifth-graders excel in Coast Day essay contest
Every year, fifth-graders from across the state participate in the annual Coast Day Essay contest hosted by the Delaware Sea Grant College Program and the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment.
This year’s first-place and third-place winners are Cape Henlopen School District students.
Rehoboth Elementary student Luke Matsko was recognized for his first-place accomplishment Nov. 4 during a Zoom awards presentation, when Luke was unaware he would be winning an award. “It was really exciting when they announced my name,” said Luke. “My family was on the Zoom too, but I didn’t realize they were there, so I was very surprised by the whole thing.”
This year’s essay contest theme was Discover Our World, tasking students with describing their favorite ecosystem habitat in Delaware. They were required to visit the habitat to explore the types of animals and plants that live there, research why the ecosystem or habitat is important and share what people can do to protect it.
“I chose Trap Pond as my ecosystem habitat after visiting there with my dad,” Luke said. “It was really cool and felt out of this world as we were traveling through it by canoe. So, I knew then that I wanted to write about that area.” In Luke’s essay, he highlights Trap Pond as a bald cypress swamp, a habitat that provides essential food and shelter for migratory birds to rest. He also outlines important characteristics like the climate, and the fact that this ecosystem helps to prevent erosion and flooding.
“Luke did an incredible job on the essay,” said Jennifer DiCecco, a Cape Accelerated Program teacher. “To take first place out of all the fifth-grade participants in the state is something to be very proud of, and we are thrilled to celebrate him and his accomplishments.”
Just up the highway, but during the same ceremony, Beau Berard, a fifth-grader from Love Creek Elementary School, was announced as the third-place contest winner.
“When Ms. Karsnitz put on the Zoom, we all thought we were going to meet with the author of a book we are reading,” said Beau. “But then I saw my mom, my dad and my grandparents, and the Sea Grant logo was on the screen, so I knew something was up, but I was still so surprised.”
Beau took the requirement of needing to research an ecosystem in Delaware one step further and picked an ecosystem right in his own backyard. “We thought a lot of people might write about the beach, but Hetty Fisher Pond is important to me since I see it every day, so I knew it would be something different to write about,” he said. In Beau’s essay, he outlines the animals that call the Hetty Fisher Pond area home, including red foxes, bald eagles, herrings, turtles and fish. A variety of plant life can also be found in and around the pond, such as reeds, sumac and willow oak, as well as beautiful North American holly trees, which Beau notes in his essay are the state tree of Delaware.
“Beau’s essay was beautifully written,” said Michele Karsnitz, a Cape Accelerated Program teacher. “It was clear he put a lot of thought and research into it, and we’re so excited he is being recognized for his great work."
Both Luke and Beau will receive a Browseabout Books gift card and a T-shirt as part of their prize packages. As their teachers, DiCecco and Karsnitz will each receive a gift card to Staples to use for their classrooms.
