Extraordinary elementary school student talent was honored Thursday night, April 20, at the annual In Dulci Jubilo Awards Ceremony.
Open to all BUSD 4th and 5th graders, In Dulci Jubilo‘s (IDJ) Art, Poetry and Essay Contest featured awards in three categories for each of the two grades. Winners in each category (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Honorable Mention) received an engraved medallion as well as a large envelope containing three impressive certificates — a California Legislature one from the offices of Senator Nancy Skinner and Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, one from Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson’s office signed by the full Board of Supervisors and one from In Dulci Jubilo. Certificates of recognition were presented also for IDJ’s retiring board President Queen Graham.
Also in the envelope were cash prizes ranging from $20 for first place to $5 for honorable mention. And all the winners, including the artists, can now say they have been published, since their work was reproduced in the commemorative booklet produced for the occasion.
First-place poetry and essay winners read their entries to enthusiastic audience applause.
Several speakers congratulated the winners and thanked In Dulci Jubilo, teachers and principals. The speakers included BUSD Superintendent Evans, Alameda County Superintendent of Education Karen Monroe, Berkeley Vice Mayor Kriss Worthington, Emerson Principal Susan Hodge and representatives of Senator Skinner and Supervisor Carson.
Founded in 1978 in Berkeley, In Dulci Jubilo is an educational nonprofit dedicated to helping Berkeley public schools. It provides grants to fund creative teaching and learning projects in addition to sponsoring the annual awards.