Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/569858
César E. Chávez Memorial Education Awards Our annual awards program invites teams of students and their teachers to express the impact César Chávez's life and work have had on them. Through essays and artwork, students demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles by which the great labor leader and civil rights activist lived his life. Our judges were impressed with the caliber of entries. See cta.org/scholarships for more information. Congratulations to all the winners! Excerpts from winning essays: "With all of these farm workers joining together (in the United Farm Workers of America), their voices were heard. This helped provide clean water and field toilets and lowered pesticide spraying on farm workers. My grandfather was happy that they lowered the amount of pesticides being sprayed. My mom remembers that sometimes they wouldn't give them gloves to pick the fruit and [the farmworkers] would worry about getting chemicals on their hands. … "Thanks to [César Chávez], farm workers are taken seriously. … "Yes we can." Peter Gutierrez, student of Johnathan A. Chakerian, Kings Canyon Teachers Association "His leadership of teamwork, cooperation and collaboration led to improved working conditions for grape farmers. He would not have this victory if he had done the job all by himself. … He was able to achieve his goals because [collaboration and teamwork] helped him raise awareness in a more powerful manner to the government. I have decided to implement Mr. Chavez's ideas of team work into my community work [to end obesity]." Grace Ling, student of Anne Greene, Fremont Education Association 2015 Artwork by Jayda Pignataro, student of Laura Gonzalez, Windsor District Education Association. Artwork by Hailey Lynaugh, student of Elizabeth Vega, Alvord Educators Association. 56 cta.org CTA & You