Midvale Middle School eighth-grader and student essayist Timothy Hui has been selected to represent Utah at the National Do the Write Thing essay contest and to have his essay about ending youth violence entered into the Library of Congress. The Do the Write Thing Challenge offers seventh- and eighth-grade students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives and write essays proposing prevention tactics to break the cycle of violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods. The national challenge is administered locally through the Utah Board of Juvenile Justice, which selects one boy and one girl to represent Utah at the national competition.
Hui, his teacher Jennifer Romney, and his parents will travel to the national competition July 20-14, 2013. He received a complementary airfare and hotel stay, and received a $500 donation to a Utah Educational Savings Plan account.
Canyons has four other students receiving state honors for their essays. They are:
- National Finalist: Tyler Hill, Crescent View Middle School. Teacher: Jenna Fitch.
- State Finalists: Mason Edwards and Abby Hall, Crescent View; Chandler Wakefield, Midvale Middle.
Canyons students submitted 613 of the 1,707 essays submitted statewide. Participating teachers include Romney and Fitch, as well as Kimberly Carter, Krista Dodds, Scott Christensen, and Whitney Lee of Crescent View Middle School.
