The Garden Island, June 8, 2020: County Committee on the Status of Women announced that four students won top honors in the 2020 Women’s History Month Essay Contest.
First place was awarded to Darian Martin. She is the daughter of Tulsea Ellamar and Darrin Martin and is a junior at Kaua‘i High School.
The committee was moved by her raw and honest emotions expressed on her struggles to overcome odds and gain appreciation of her true self, according to a press release.
Here is the winning essay.
LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Committee on the Status of Women (KCSW) is seeking entries for the 2020 Women’s History Essay Contest from high school students in private, public, charter, and home schools.The Committee invites students to participate and write a one-page essay about a woman who has inspired them.
“Celebrating women’s history month is an opportunity to honor and recount stories of female leaders’ talents, sacrifices, accomplishments, and impacts,” said KCSW Vice Chair Regina Carvalho. “Learning about our past creates a path to build a better future. We hope to ignite the spark to inspire a thoughtful conversation.”
This year marks the 100th year anniversary of the 19th Amendment. On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified and granted all American women the right to vote. In celebration of this 100th anniversary, the National Women’s History Alliance has selected the 2020 women’s history theme as the Valiant Women of the Vote.
KCSW joins the Alliance in honoring Wilhelmina Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett, a native Hawaiian woman born and raised on Kaua‘i who was a prominent local leader of women suffrage. In 1912, Dowsett founded the National Women’s Equal Suffrage Association of Hawai‘i and served as its first President. She toured the islands raising awareness and support for voting rights for women. She fought an uphill battle as the Territory of Hawai‘i had established the Organic Act that stopped the territorial legislature from granting suffrage. Despite this, Hawaiian suffragists pushed an Act through Congress granting Hawai‘i the power to decide. Although the bill granting women the right to vote never passed in the Territory of Hawai‘i in 1919, Congress passed the 19th Amendment in 1920.
“We honor Ms. Dowsett for her work in establishing a voice for the women in Hawai‘i during the suffrage movement,” said KCSW Chair Darcie Yukimura.
For essay rules and entry forms, please visit the Kaua‘i Committee on the Status of Women website www.kauai.gov/kccsw. Essays are due by 4:30 p.m., on Monday, March 23, 2020, by email to smuragin@kauai.gov. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and will receive a cash prize.
The Kaua‘i Committee on the Status of Women is part of the County of Kaua‘i Office of Boards and Commissions, and the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, which develops and promotes education, interactive opportunities on issues relating to women and girls, prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls, and encourages health and wellness awareness.
For more information, please contact Sandra Muragin, Office of Boards and Commissions, at 241-4919 or smuragin@kauai.gov, or visit the Committee on the Status of Women website at www.kauai.gov/kccsw.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Anela Segreti at 241-4917 or asegreti@kauai.gov, as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.
