Leilana Levario Earns Writing Recognition

EPMS student Leilana Levario recently earned international recognition for her writing after being selected as a Distinction Award winner in the Lumiere Junior Scholars Essay Contest.

Chosen from more than 500 student essays submitted from 48 countries, Leilana received a $750 scholarship toward Lumiere’s Junior Research Program, an academic opportunity that connects students with mentors from top universities, including Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford.

Leilana’s essay explored how art can serve as a catalyst for social change, a topic she said challenged her to think beyond her own experiences.

“Honestly, I’m not very into art at all,” Leilana said. “I really had to ignore my own opinions and put myself into somebody else’s shoes.”

Through her research and writing, Leilana discovered a deeper appreciation for the role art plays in helping people feel seen, heard, and connected.

“I wrote about how art helps bring people closer together,” she explained. “It can help people feel seen and have a voice. Art is a really good form of expression.”

This experience also changed her perspective on creativity itself.

“I used to not really understand how people could get so connected to their art,” she said. “But after hearing other people’s perspectives, I realized how much of themselves they put into creating something. It means a lot more than I ever thought it did.”

Leilana admitted she nearly decided not to enter the contest after hearing about it from EPMS teacher Mr. Ruth.

“I wasn’t going to do it at first because it felt like such a big thing, and I didn’t think I had a chance,” she said. “But Mr. Ruth encouraged me to try.”

When Leilana first learned she had been shortlisted, she still did not expect to place. It was not until her mother walked into her room during the virtual awards ceremony and told her she had received the scholarship email that the accomplishment fully sank in.

“I was so excited,” she said. “It totally caught me off guard.”

Beyond the award itself, Leilana says the experience gave her greater confidence in her abilities as a writer.

“I’m really glad that Mr. Ruth gave me this opportunity and cheered me on,” she said. “I wouldn’t have found it without him.”

Congratulations to Leilana on this outstanding accomplishment and for representing EPMS!