Thanks after the terror

Deirdre Newman

COSTA MESA -- The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks provided emotional fodder

for the students who entered an essay contest about what they are

thankful for.

More than 2,000 entries from Southern California flooded the Tustin

office of Mimi’s Cafe, which sponsored the annual event for the seventh

consecutive year.

The contest culminated Wednesday at the Costa Mesa location, when all

15 finalists -- ranging from first- to sixth-graders -- read their essays

aloud in front of their families.

The grand prize winner was Luke Watkins of Orange, who earned a $1,000

savings bond. Luke focused on the values Americans took for granted

before Sept. 11, such as freedom of speech and religion.

Two local students also made it to the finals -- Jennifer Zimmerman of

Balboa Island and Alex Moyzis of Corona del Mar.

Jennifer, a fourth-grader at Eastbluff Elementary School, wrote that

the terrorist attacks altered her perspective on what she is thankful for

this year.

“This year, I am thankful for my Mom and Dad because no one in my

family was hurt or killed in the World Trade Center or Pentagon, like so

many other children who lost family members,” she wrote.

Alex and her fifth-grade classmates at Pegasus School in Huntington

Beach entered their essays. Of them, she was the only finalist. She wrote

about how thankful she is for her family, including her adopted Chinese

sister.

“I sort of thought about ideas from my heart,” Alex said.

Alex’s mom, Debra, said it was refreshing to see so much attention

devoted to the thoughts of children.

“It’s nice they have a contest where children’s voices are heard. It

gives them the opportunity to express their views and opinions and let

them know they’re as important as anyone else is,” Debra said.

Two other finalists -- Sandra Rodriguez from Santa Ana and Michael Lai

from Redlands -- received $250 savings bonds.