Olmos Elementary School fifth-grader Gilbert Herrera won second place in the city-wide Celebrate America Essay writing contest. During an awards ceremony on Saturday, May 3 in downtown San Antonio, Herrera was presented with his prize of $60. Herrera's essay was chosen from more than 100 entries written to the theme: WHY I AM HAPPY THAT UNITED STATES IS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS.

"Gilbert came to Olmos late in the school year," said Victoria Martinez, Olmos teacher. "I saw something in him that he did not often show to others. I saw the quality of a strong leader—determination, strong will, and pride." Martinez invited Herrera to join Owl PALS, a school organization designed to encourage strong leadership skills and community involvement, to learn what it takes to become a leader. According to Martinez, Herrera didn't show his true leadership capabilities until this essay contest.

During Saturday tutoring, Martinez has students write their thoughts on the Native American "Long Walk."

"Herrera wrote an amazing piece on his feelings, and shared it aloud with the group," said Martinez. "I knew he was a natural at writing."

When Martinez asked Herrera if he had written before, he explained that he used to love writing, but gave up on it because he thought he was not good at it. Martinez used the essay contest as an opportunity to get Herrera back into writing.

The contest was open for any fifth grade student. Olmos teachers offered the contest to any eligible student who wanted to participate, with the understanding that the work would have to be done at home and/or during lunch.

Herrera jumped at the chance to write and win something, but he first needed to do research. Martinez encouraged him to go home and talk to his family about immigration and their experiences. Herrera came back to school with dozens of ideas based on his conversation with his mother and grandmother. He learned that he is a descendant of an immigrant.

"This gave the contest a personal purpose for Gilbert," said Martinez. "It was now important for him to share his thoughts and feelings about what he had learned. Gilbert came every day for a week during his lunch time. He took any opportunity he had to perfect his paper."

When Herrera learned he had won second place, he could not stop smiling and could not wait to get home to tell his family.