KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Three local students are being honored for their contributions to the annual Kelseyville Pear Festival Essay Contest.

First place in the 2023 Kelseyville Pear Festival Essay Contest goes to Keon Romero, a 12-year-old student at Terrace Middle School in Lakeport.

Romero’s essay “The Winning Prize” tells the story of his “Nana” who worked at a local pear shed and how she won a costume contest.

Essays were judged on literary merit, creativity and adherence to the pear theme. Romero said he likes reading and writing “because it brings me peace when I am stressed.”

He also likes to spend time with family and friends. He loves basketball and soccer and hopes to be an athlete when he grows up.

Second place winner is Bianca Saldana-Pulido of Clearlake. She is a senior at Carle’ High School. She wrote “Celebrating Lake County Pears,” an essay about the pear festival and the history of pear-growing in Lake County.

Third place winner is Eva Pasley, a senior at Carle High School in Clearlake. Her “It’s Pear-tastic” essay details the health benefits of pears.

Judges also awarded honorable mentions for three submissions that were creative and expressed the theme well.

The honorable mentions are awarded to: Andrea Silva of Lower Lake, Cuahutemoc Ochoa of Clearlake and Audrey Person of Clearlake.