Copiague School District’s elementary and middle school students were honored for their participation in the Copiague Knights of Columbus annual poster and essay contests at the March 9 Board of Education meeting at Copiague Middle School.
The poster contest, now in its 16th year and named in honor of former Grand Knight Robert Waidler, garnered more than 200 entries to tackle the issue of drug and alcohol abuse. Students received a certificate and prize sponsored by the Copiague Knights of Columbus. Fourteen students from Copiague School District were chosen as winners. 
Congratulations to the following students: 
•    Deauville Gardens East Elementary School: Anthony Rekas. 
•    Deauville Gardens West Elementary School: Jose Gonzalez Cabrera.
•    Susan E. Wiley Elementary School: Emily Alfaro Ulloa, Maria Duran Jimenez, Genesis Machado Cortez, Anhelina Pryimachuk and Chrisdin Vasquez Vasquez.
•    Copiague Middle School: Gema Peralta Herrera, Sebastian Collado, Jonathan Medina Fuentes, Genesis Gonzales Flores, Genesis Rodriguez, Luzmeiry Cabrera Luna and Alexander Santana.
This year’s annual essay contest focused on the concept of religious freedom. Each student winner received a prize and certificate. From Copiague Middle School, this year’s Copiague Knights of Columbus essay contest winners were Mert Ergal (first place), Sophia Pena (second place) and Aidan Olivieri (third place).