Shopping center announces the winners of its Mother's Day essay contest

Santa Susana Plaza recently selected 26 winners from 173 entries submitted to a Mother's Day essay contest, open to students in seven Simi Valley schools. An awards ceremony was held May 19 at Big Pat's Diner.

The seven grand prize winners are Zachary Schultz, grade six, White Oak Elementary; Hunter Nicole Kelly, kindergarten, Katherine Elementary; Connor Pearce, grade one, Phoenix Ranch; Emily Radtke, grade five, Good Shepard Lutheran School; Joshua Schnebly, grade five, Pinecrest; Vincent Urquidez, grade four, Knolls Elementary; and Leila Amir, grade five, Santa Susana Elementary.

The grand prize winners received a gift bag filled with Santa Susana Plaza gift certificates and merchandise for their mothers.

The essay and coloring sheets on "Why My Mom's the Best" were distributed to children in kindergarten through sixth grade. One winner from each grade in each school won a $25 shopping spree at the plaza.

The schools that participated were Santa Susana Elementary School, Katherine Elementary, Knolls Elementary, White Oak Elementary, Phoenix Ranch School, Good Shepard Lutheran and Pinecrest.