Subject
title
2024 Recognition of the Winner of the Maryland Municipal League “IF I WERE MAYOR” Essay Contest - Callie Walker
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council present the Certificate of Recognition to the essay contest winner Callie Walker
Discussion
The Maryland Municipal League (MML) and the Maryland Mayors’ Association (MMA) invited
all fourth-grade students to participate in a statewide “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. This year’s contest theme is “Inspiring Leadership in Your City/Town/Community. The contest gives students a chance to creatively use grade-specific language arts skills and civics/social studies knowledge. Students are encouraged to be creative and address the following:
What would you do to inspire leadership in your city/town/community?
Describe a project you would undertake to make others want to help make the city/town/community better!
Mayor Ashton sent a letter to all public and private elementary schools in Rockville encouraging the participation of all fourth-grade students. The letter was followed up by personal visits from the Mayor to the fourth-grade classes. State level winners were selected by MML and MMA.
The essay of Callie Walker from Saint Mary’s School was selected as District #5 Rockville’s
winner in the Maryland Municipal League’s, “If I Were Mayor” contest. Callie is from the
fourth-grade classes of Ms. Martha O’Hanlon.
Callie will begin her official duties as “Mayor, mini-Mayor, of Rockville” on Monday, May 20, 2024. She will preside over the opening the of Mayor and Council meeting, call the meeting to order, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and read her winning essay.
On Thursday May 23, 2024, Callie will report for duty as “Mayor, mini-Mayor, of Rockville”. Callie will start her day at City Hall in the Mayor’s Office, receive a guided tour of the Rockville City Police Department followed by a Police Ride-Along, and then be escorted to Rockville’s Department of Public Works (DPW) Large Equipment Show at Mattie J. Stepanek Park at 1800 Piccard Drive.
The DPW Large Equipment Show is open to the public and children will be able to climb on the equipment and machinery. After the show, Callie will receive a tour of the Croydon Creek Nature Center and then return to City Hall for lunch with Mayor Ashton. Callie will conclude her “Mayor for the Day” activities with participation in Rockville’s Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27, 2024.
Mayor and Council History
This is the 21st consecutive year that the “If I Were Mayor” essay contest winners have been recognized by the Mayor and Council.
Public Notification and Engagement
Thursday, May 23, 2024, DPW Large Equipment Show is open to the public; everyone including the children can participate in climbing on the equipment and see how it works.