STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

State Comptroller Nancy Wyman today announced the results of her seventh annual Little Known Black History Fact Essay Contest.

The event is open to high school juniors and seeks to explore facts about black history that are not well known. It is sponsored by the Office of the State Comptroller with the support of New Alliance Bank, Bank of America and People's Bank. Student winners received U.S. Savings Bonds of between $1,000 and $50.

"The research and writing by these students is not only educational for all of us, but is a tribute to a very important part of American heritage," Wyman said. "I am delighted to honor them."

This year's judges were Dorsey Kendrick, President of Gateway Community Technical College; Charles Tisdale, Exec. Dir., Action Bridgeport Community Development Agency, and Henry Hartie, of the Hartford Human Relations Commission.

This year's winners are:

1) Briona West, Wilby High School, Waterbury, who wrote about Lewis Howard Latimer, a pioneering inventor Bridgeport who helped Thomas Edison improve the longevity of the light bulb.
2) Cecil Malcolm, Wilby High School, Waterbury, whose essay focused on assertions that composer Ludwig Von Beethoven was of mixed race.
3) Adriana Diliberto, John F. Kennedy High School, Waterbury, who wrote about John Lee Love, the inventor of the pencil sharpener.
4) Ashley Randall, Waterbury Arts Magnet School, who wrote about the inventor of the folding chair, Nathaniel Alexander.
5) Patrece S. Richards, Weaver High School, Hartford, whose essay detailed the life of Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, the first African-American chemist elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
6) Melissa Wright, Danbury High School, who wrote about John Hanson, the first man to serve a full term as President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation.

The State Comptroller appreciates input on this and other issues from residents of the state. Please feel free to contact her office by phone - (860) 702-3300; mail - OSC, 55 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106; or, via E-mail - osc.opinions@po.state.ct.us

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