The Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation recently concluded its annual Holiday Essay Contest, during which students in kindergarten through sixth grade were asked to answer, in 200 words or less: “What does the holiday season mean to you and why?”

From a pool of 127 entries, the top 25 winners were selected and received a free ride on The Santa Express on Friday, Dec. 7, sponsored by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s winners are:

• Aamilah Amos, fourth grade, Curtin Intermediate School
• Hunter Baney, kindergarten, Jackson Primary School
• Elijah Bechtol, fifth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Madison Betts, fifth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Lauren Bogle, fourth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Steven Bott, fifth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Allie Bower, second grade, Hepburn-Lycoming Primary School
• Sophia Darby, fifth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Dalton Derr, second grade, Hepburn-Lycoming Primary School
• Marianna Divel, kindergarten, Cochran Primary School
• Yehickob Echevarria, third garde, Jackson Primary School
• Jace Heller, third grade, Hepburn-Lycoming Primary School
• Caleigh Horinko, third grade, Hepburn-Lycoming Primary School
• Ty House, third grade, Jackson Primary School
• Kyra Lichtenfels, fifth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Alexia McCloskey, third grade, Jackson Primary School
• Alliyah Miller, third grade, Hepburn-Lycoming Primary School
• Payton Pepperman, third grade, Stevens Primary School
• Cashlin Rogers, fifth grade, Curtin Intermediate School
• Kamar Stroud, fourth grade, Curtin Intermediate School
• Josie Sweeting, first grade, Stevens Primary School
• Sienna Weaver, fifth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Tatum Wesneski, fourth grade, Lycoming Valley Intermediate School

In addition to the train ride, two top essay winners were selected and received a $25 gift card to the AMC movie theater downtown, sponsored by the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. These two students are sixth-grader Scott Anthony from Curtin Intermediate and third-grader Nyseim Williams from Jackson Primary.

This year will mark 175 students who have enjoyed a ride on The Santa Express — for free — as a result of the foundation’s holiday essay contest.

The WASD Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for students by funding programs, projects and initiatives. For more information on the foundation, or to learn how to make a gift, visit www.wasdeducationfoundation.org.

You can read the two winning essays on the next pages.