Beaverton's "If I Were Mayor..." contest winners announced | Arts & Culture

Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle announced the winners of Beaverton's "If I Were Mayor…" contest during the Beaverton City Council meeting on June 21.

This is the second year the City of Beaverton has participated in the contest sponsored by the Oregon Mayors Association for students fourth grade through college. The Beaverton winner in each category received a $50 Visa gift card and the top winner in each category will go on to compete in the statewide competition for a laptop computer.

4-6 Grade Poster Contest: Abigail Lue

Lue is the poster contest winner. She just completed the sixth grade at the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy. Her poster portrayed increased affordable housing; in-home living assistance for the elderly; the arrival of biodiesel cars to the community; large green spaces; soup kitchens with extended hours every day; and, recycling centers. All services Lue believes our community needs.

7-8 Grade Essay Contest: Ally Heueisen

Heueisen is the essay contest winner. She just completed the eighth grade at Palace of Praise Academy. Her essay included ideas such as, improving public mobility by building bus stops that don't impede traffic; focusing on and appreciating the environment by building more parks and community gardens; and, creating programs to take care of those less fortunate through donations.

High School and College Student Video Contest: Yamini Naidu

Naidu is the video contest winner. Naidu just completed the ninth grade at Valley Catholic High School. Naidu's video focused on traffic congestion and a cleaning up the City's methamphetamine-related crimes. In the end, Naidu's message was government transparency and the importance of working together to solve City issues.

"I'm amazed by the creativity displayed by the students who entered the contest," Doyle said. "This is a fantastic opportunity for our youth to be inventive and express their ideas, and they did not disappoint."

Doyle and the Beaverton City Council judged the entries based on the criteria outlined by the Oregon Mayors Association.

Judges considered:

• Creativity: does the student demonstrate curiosity and originality? 
• Clarity/sincerity of thought: is the submission well thought out and organized? 
• Proper use of grammar: does the submission contain proper spelling, grammar and punctuation? 
• Subject relevancy: Are the major points relevant to the role of a government leader? Does the student demonstrate an understanding of municipal government and the job of Mayor?