Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Beach), and the Rockaway Leaders Alliance (RLA) announced the winners of the 2020 She Should Run Essay contest launched at the end of 2020. The contest, inspired by the 2020 She Should Run Barbie Doll set meant to inspire young women to run for office and get involved in politics, challenged the students to think critically about which laws they would want to change or create, and why. Twenty students submitted essays, of which 4 winners were chosen: 4th Grader Katherine E of PS 114, and 5th Graders Shaleah M from PS 105, Cassidy R of PS 114, and Daiyana DL from PS 253. The finalist’s submissions covered a variety of topics ranging from pollution to citizenship requirements in order to run for president.

“I am so proud of all the students who participated in this contest, and of their incredible and thought-provoking submissions - they fully embraced this challenge,” Pheffer Amato said. “It is crucial that we develop our next generation of legislators and community leaders, and I hope this contest helped them realize the power of their voices. We are teaching our young people, especially young women, that their voice matters, and that there are no boundaries to their potential, and that’s why this contest was so important to me.”

"Our She Should Run essay contest was a great initiative to spark students' thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.As students experience the world, they are processing events, formulating ideas and have an opinion that's worth sharing; through their writing, we were able to capture complex thought, passion and their voice.,” said Principal Pheobe Robinson of PS 253q. “We hope that with the amelioration of writing skills, our students begin to harness the power of their voice to shape the outcomes they determine necessary as active citizens in their community and the world at large. Special thanks to principals, school staff and parents on the Peninsula for supporting this initiative. "

Each of the participants will receive a certificate of merit, and the four finalists will get a set of the She Should Run Barbie Doll personally delivered to their homes by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.