COVID-19 has forced many organizations to rethink how we connect to each other.
The Rotary Club of Cupertino has stepped up to continue much of its programming, despite the pandemic, moving things online.
It hosted the annual ‘Cupertino Rotary Poetry Contest’ on Zoom Wednesday. The event honored students from Fremont Union High School District and Cupertino Union’s middle schools.
Rotary bills the event as one that “encourages our local students to understand the importance of art form, poetry and helps to build creative expression.”
“Cupertino Rotary was able to continue this excellent program, providing students with a semblance of normalcy and helping to serve as an outlet to deal with the melancholy of social separation,” said Jeff Moe, chair of the contest.
The new format, with its increased accessibility, made it easier for more students to participate.
“This year’s participation in the poetry contest was almost 50% more than last year’s record participation,” Moe added.
Winners from this year’s poetry contest, per Cupertino Rotary:
From Cupertino Union Middle Schools: Grace Key, Chelsea Guo, and Caitlin Zhou. From Fremont Union: Aashrita Natesan, Alyssa Umino, and Chloe Kwon.