Two Jordan School District students were honored for their essays against youth violence at the 26th annual “Do the Write Thing” contest. Fort Herriman Middle School eighth graders Brooklyn Billman and Jack (John) Parry were named state finalists in the competition hosted by the Utah State Board of Education. Each student received a $300 My 529 Scholarship.
The initiative, sponsored by the USBE Prevention team and the National Campaign to Stop Violence, challenges seventh and eighth graders to reflect on the causes of youth violence and propose real-world solutions. “The ‘Do the Write Thing’ challenge proves that our students have the insight and the courage to lead the way toward a safer future,” State Superintendent Molly Hart said.
This year, nearly 2,000 Utah students participated in the program’s classroom discussions, with Billman and Parry rising to the top among 261 state-level final submissions. Jordan School District congratulates both students for their exceptional leadership and powerful writing.