West Chicago, Illinois: December 3, 2009 – Holiday excitement will come early to three West Chicago elementary school students when City of West Chicago Mayor Mike Kwasman pays a classroom visit to congratulate the winners and commend all the participants of a City sponsored essay contest, My Favorite Things About West Chicago, one of the elements of the City’s Frosty Fest event. Mayor Kwasman will also extend a personal invitation to each of the winners to help him light the official tree in downtown West Chicago at the Fox Community Center, located at 306 Main Street on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. 

The following students submitted award winning essays for their age category which may found on the City’s website, www.westchicago.org:

 Grades 1 & 2:

Mariana Gomez Duran – Wegner School (2nd grade)

 Grades 3 & 4:

Matt Dupasquier – St. Mary’s School (4th grade)

 Grades 5 & 6:

Leslie Cortes – Pioneer School (6th grade)

 “The students outdid themselves this year,” said Mayor Kwasman. “The thoughtful comments and utter enthusiasm expressed for their hometown at all the grade levels is the real prize. Hopefully, the memories of some of their favorite things will last a lifetime for them.”

 The contest, which originated as an idea by Mayor Kwasman to spark civic engagement at an early age, is now in its third year and growing. Turtle Splash Water Park (with the water bucket-drop garnering high praise in many of the essays), the West Chicago Public Library, and Gallery 200 are a few of the favorite things that inspired 146 of the community’s elementary school students to write about, in what has become a new City tradition. The essays also mentioned many different restaurants and specific menu items, train history, West Chicago Police Officer Hernandez and the Too Good for Drugs program, Railroad Days and the prairie path.

 “The response this year was outstanding,” said Mayor Kwasman. “We appreciate the support and encouragement of our teachers, parents and school administrators in partnering with us on this project.”

 For a complete schedule of other Frosty Fest activities, visit www.westchicago.org

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