Ashley Hunter, ECB Publishing, Inc.
The third annual Howard Academy Field Day took place on Saturday, May 5 at the Historic Howard Academy school grounds.
Howard Academy was built in 1936 to provide a place for African American students, grades one through twelve, to be consolidated into one schoolhouse.
In 1940, the original schoolhouse became an elementary school, and a new second building was constructed as the Howard Academy High School.
Located on Chestnut Street, Howard Academy was the first school for African American students in Jefferson County, and is a historic landmark which is crumbling.
In 1957, when another school for African American children was build on Second Street, and then with the integration of schools in the early 1970's, old Howard Academy was abandoned. But those who graduated from the academy's hallowed halls, or have relatives who graduated from Howard Academy remember what the school used to be, and are willing to work to returning it to a former place of glory.
The Howard Academy Educational and Recreational Council (HAERC) is attempting to salvage a crucial part of Jefferson County's history, and the Howard Academy Field Day is one of the council's fundraising events that currently aims to collect the monies required to repair the bathroom facilities and electrical needs of the school. Once those two matters are repaired, the academy will be able to remain open more frequently for tours, and can begin to focus on other repair needs as the funds present themselves.
On Saturday, May 5, the Howard Academy Field Day offered a place for the community to come out, purchase delicious meals from vendors, tour the academy, view antiques and memorabilia from days gone, or learn about the history of education in Jefferson County. The HAERC also offered an essay contest for children, with the children being given prizes for their essays and an invitation to read their essay aloud during the field day.
Essays were required to have a minimum of 100 words for grades 1-6 and 250 words for grades 7-12.
All essays were required to be on the topic of “May 20 is Emancipation Day in Florida. Why do we celebrate it and why is it important to me?”
The essays were judged on organization, support of ideas, spelling, punctuation and age-appropriate grammar.
Essay contest winners for Kindergarten grades: Armani Alexander, Reign Carillo, Sudiksha Kolluru, with all winners receiving a $10 prize.
Essay contest winners for 1st - 6th Grades: Luke Brault, 1st Place ($50 prize); Kaitlyn Johnson, 2nd Place ($25 prize); and Georondre Pittman, 3rd Place ($15 prize).
Essay contest winners for 6th -12th Grades: Ayianna Bradley, 1st Place ($75 prize); Keyshawn Thomas, 2nd Place ($50 prize); and Dylan Moore, 3rd Place ($25 prize).
To learn more about Howard Academy, how you can help save a piece of Jefferson County's history, or the Howard Academy Educational and Recreational Council, visit them online at howardacademycouncil.org.
Howard Academy Essay Contest 1st Place Winners
10th grader Ayianna Bradley won first place in the 6th-12th Grade Essay contest hosted in conjuncture with the Howard Academy Field Day by the HAERC.
Bradley won a $75 prize for her winning essay, in which Bradley wrote about the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation and what the day meant to her. “Knowing my ancestors were fighting for something that was so important to them lets me know that I can fight too. I can fight for what I want. If I want anything in life then I can go get it,” writes Bradley.
1st Grader Luke Brault won the 1st-6th Grade Essay contest. Brault's essay, titled “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” was accompanied by a drawing of Abraham Lincoln. “Emancipation Day means people can come together peacefully,” wrote Brault in his essay.
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