Kiwanis Kindness Essay Winners

Each year, the Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis Club sponsors a Kindness Essay Contest for fifth graders across the district, encouraging students to share inspiring stories of kindness. This year, a whopping 238 students from six elementary programs participated, so Kiwanis members enjoyed reading a lot of sweet stories! Ultimately, they chose 22 inspiring stories to recognize.

Student authors described a wide range of good deeds they initiated to help others without being asked. The award-winning essays highlighted picking up after the Bomb Cyclone, raising money for cancer, helping friends with math, intervening to stop bullying, shoveling snow for a neighbor, assisting a bus driver, supporting their grandma, reporting a lost wallet found at the beach, and many more acts of kindness. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Kindness Essays winners and runners-up: 

Winners: 

• Cascade View Elementary (CVES) – Jack Manassero, Alex Somerstein, Baylee Strasburg 
• North Bend Elementary (NBES) – Brooklyn Burdett
• Opstad Elementary (OES) – Indie Colonna, James Thiel
• Parent Partnership Program (P3) – Madeline Finnegan
• Snoqualmie Elementary (SES) – Ethan Ferro, Hannah Telyea, Melody Wang
• Timber Ridge Elementary (TRES) – Cameron Crocket, Juliette Davidson

Runners-up: 

• CVES – Ellie Cole, Greyson Oakley
• NBES – Oren Goldblatt 
• OES – Olivia Davis, Zoey Fredette, Declan Haycox
• SES – Harper Grizzel, Riley Lentz
• TRES – James Duxbury, Sophia Flaherty

After reading their essays to classmates and teachers, each winner received a $50 check from Kiwanis and runners-up received a new toy, in addition to award certificates!  To continue to encourage kindness throughout the year, all 5th graders received Kindness stickers – specially designed by MSHS Digital Media students for each elementary school. 

A big thank you to Kiwanis for celebrating our thoughtful young writers and encouraging kindness. We are so proud of our students for spreading kindness and empathy through their words and actions!