Aisha Choudhary bags third prize in Tristate competition.
Bureau Report
NEW YORK: A 10-year-old Indian American girl, Aisha Choudhary, has won the third prize in an essay writing competition by McDonald’s. She was among 10 elementary school students who won awards for their personal stories celebrating the contributions of Asian Pacific American families in the New York Tri-State area.
The winners of the contest, titled ‘My Inspirational Story,’ were feted at a special awards ceremony at PS 124, The Yung Wing School in Chinatown – which is attended by two of the winners. Hosted by celebrated fashion journalist David Yi (ELLE, InStyle), the event featured all 10 winners reading their essays and receiving their awards as well as a special appearance by Ronald McDonald. The essays can be read at www.mcdonaldsnytristate.com
Launched in 2010, the My Inspirational Story Children’s contest invites children, ages 8 to 11, to share personal experiences of how their families have inspired them to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams. Due to the overwhelmingly positive community response to My Inspirational Story, McDonald’s has nearly tripled the prize values for this year’s contest. The 1st place winner got $1,500; 2nd place – $1,000; 3rd place – $500, and seven runner-ups each receive $250.
The winners were selected by an esteemed panel of judges which included award-winning journalists, writers and bloggers from The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, ESPN, US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, The Source and TIME for Kids.
Choudhary, of P.S. 54, received the prize for her inspirational story about her brother’s kindness.
“As the son of Korean immigrants, I’m very proud to be part of a program that recognizes the sacrifices and struggles that many Asian families face – and ultimately overcome,” said David Yi, who served as one of this year’s judges. “As a journalist, it’s so rewarding to have the opportunity to empower the next generation of writers.”
“Parents are a child’s first role models; setting examples that are followed throughout a lifetime,” said Tony Scari, McDonald’s New York Metro Co-op President.
Other Asian American programs by Mcdonald’s include the RMHC/ASIA Scholarship Program, which awards six $17,000 college scholarships to Asian American students from the New York Tri-State Area, and the McDonald’s Martial Arts Dance Crew, a group of young performers who blend hip-hop with Asian martial arts to create a unique and exciting cross-cultural experience.