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Father of the Year Essay Winners Recognized at Annual Fatherhood Event

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Father of the Year Essay Winners Recognized at Annual Fatherhood Event

Winners of the Merced County Father of the Year essay contest were recognized Saturday, June 14, at the annual Celebration of Fatherhood event, hosted by the Human Services Agency All Dads Matter Program.

The essay contest, organized by the Merced County Office of Education, encouraged students of all grade levels to write and submit an essay on what their father or father figure means to them. Thewinning students are then awarded every year at the Celebration of Fatherhood Event. This year’s contest received nearly 100 submissions from young writers throughout the county. 

Beyond biological fathers, essays were written about stepparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, coaches, teachers and any individual who fulfills that role in a students’ life. Essays were selected based on creativity, thoughtfulness and personal connection. 

The 2025 Father of the Year Essay winners:

First Place 
Amyra Kaur, Kindergarten, Farmdale Elementary 
Ellie Le, 1st Grade, Stoneridge Christian
Isla Riding, 2nd Grade, Stoneridge Christian
Quinton Gomez, 3rd Grade, Marks Elementary 
Marcus Cervantes, 4th Grade, Don Stowell Elementary
Rozlyn Abarca, 5th Grade, Chenoweth Elementary
Lilianna Cruz, 6th Grade, Peggy Heller Elementary
Liliana Tapia Tirado, 7th Grade, Hoover Middle
Johnny Efrain Ortega, 8th Grade, McSwain Elementary
Elizabeth Lopez, 9th Grade, Dos Palos High 

Second Place 
Savannah Valencia, Kindergarten, Farmdale Elementary
Amina Aguirre, 2nd Grade, Gustine Elementary 
Wilson Arruda, 3rd Grade, McSwain Elementary
Paisley Brown, 4th Grade, Stoneridge Christian
Noah Durand, 5th Grade, Fremont Elementary
Alexandra Duran, 6th Grade, Peggy Heller Elementary
Emma Goucher, 7th Grade, Peggy Heller Elementary
Isabella Rodriguez, 8th Grade, Hoover Middle 

Third Place 
Alexis Yang, Kindergarten, Farmdale Elementary
Victor Zaragoza, 2nd Grade, Stoneridge Christian
Tiffany Smith, 3rd Grade, McSwain Elementary
Callan Perez, 4th Grade, Luther Burbank 
James Rough, 5th Grade, Chenoweth Elementary
Nicholas Roussos, 8th Grade, Hoover Middle

The Merced County Father of the Year Essay Contest encourages students in grades TK-12 to reflect and write about their experiences with a father or father figure who have helped shape their lives. 

A Father of the Year essay contest winner walks to receive a medal.
Father of the Year essay contest winners and their fathers stand for a group photo at the Celebration of Fatherhood event
First place Father of the Year Essay Content winner takes a photo with his father at the Celebration of Fatherhood Event
Father of the Year Essay Contest winner stands with her father after receiving an award.

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