Time Warner Cable recognized 50 Best Moms over the Mother’s Day weekend, and three finalists were named the top winners of the 2013 Best Moms contest during a splendid luncheon at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. “The annual contest, now in its 12th year, provides local children the opportunity to celebrate the qualities that make their moms special, earning the families well-deserved appreciation for Mother’s Day.”
Best Moms Winners 2013. Photo by TWC.
There were approximately 2,000 essay and video entries, and the judges selected the top winner from each school level. This year’s top three Best Moms were Heather Jessee, whose daughter Maya attends Pacific Beach Elementary, Hung Khuu, whose son Brandon is a senior and attends The Pruess School, and Rosalvina Macias de Marquez, whose daughter Hannah attends De Portola Middle School. Highlights from their three essays, along with all the finalists, can be found at www.TWCBestMoms.com.
Best Moms 2013 Top Winners. Photo TWC
My family and I sat with the Khuu family, and I asked Hung where he will be going to college in the fall. “I am going to attend UCSD like my brother,” he replied pointing to his older brother, now a senior at the university, who was also at the table with us.
Coronado was well represented at the Best Moms Awards luncheon with five winners, all from Coronado Middle School!
Coronado Middle School Best Moms 2013. From left to right are: Sydney Zoehrer, Alice Zoehrer, Ashlyn Hirsch, Elizabeth Hirsh, Madellin Ellis, Julie Ellis, Sam Wright, Worarat Wright. Not captured in this group shot are Sara Boswell (mom) and Lacey Brauer.
Photo TWC.
The winners are: Sara Lynn Boswell, student Lacey Brauer, Coronado Middle School, grade 6, teacher, Linda Kullmann, Elizabeth Hirsh, student Ashlyn Hirsh, grade 7, teacher Kim Pittner. Julie Ellis, student Madellin Ellis, grade 6, teacher Laura Byington. Worarat Wright, student Sam Wright, grade 7, teacher Kim Pittner. Alice Zoehrer, student Sydney Zoehrer, grade 6, teacher Linda Kullmann.
For the last seven years, I have had the honor of judging the heart-warming essays students submit honoring their mothers. And for the second year, I also co-hosted this event with Pam Pantua, Time Warner Cable’s Community Investment Specialist.
Best Moms judges and VIPs. Pictured (L to R) Adrian Granda City of San Diego Council President Todd Gloria’s Office, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Cox, NBC 7/39 Jodi Kodesh, Supervisor Dave Roberts, TWC Pam Pantua, 79th District Assembly Member Shirley Weber, Past Best Moms winner and co-host Suzette Valle, and Government Relations Sr. Director Jose Gabaldon.
Judges for this year’s contest were made up of local VIPs and Time Warner Cable employees. Every Best Mom selected received an award and gifts, while the top winners were presented with a Sony Xperia Tablet.
One student in each grade level was selected as the top winner and received a Sony Xperia. Their teachers also got a $250 gift card to use for their classrooms. Photo S. Valle
“Time Warner Cable’s Best Moms Contest invited San Diego area students in grades 4-12 to share their stories by submitting an essay or short video on what makes their mom the “Best Mom.” New this year was the launch of the Best Moms website, which provided all contest details, and offered an easy method of submission.”
Below are essay highlights from the three winners from this year’s Best Moms contests, representing three school levels.
Best Mom: Heather Jessee, Pacific Beach
Student: Maya Jessee, Grade 4, Pacific Beach Elementary School
My mom is the sweetest and most delicate of all. She knows more paradise than angels can recall. She’s not only beautiful, but passionately young. My mom is a teacher; this job really benefits me because if I ever need help with any of my homework or help with a school project she is always there to help me. A mother is the trunk of the tree, the heart of the family, she always wants to keep my family moving forward and she is always willing to help me through hard times, she is always right there by my side when I am hurt or in pain. She also is always there to help me with school work so I can get good grades, but at the same time she wants me to like what I am doing. Great moms don’t come along all the time but I am very, very, very, lucky that I got one!
Best Mom: Rosalvina Macias de Marquez, Tierrasanta
Student: Hannah Marquez, Grade 7, De Portola Middle School
My mom is the best. She is hardworking Mexican immigrant, passionate and intelligent like our people. She taught me to cherish my intelligence and love of learning. My mother taught me to be proud of my intelligence, my race, and my gender, things that some people might call setbacks. She is a study in confidence, in herself and in the opportunities the world gives us. She isn’t afraid to stand up for herself, yet she was born in a country where women are often second class. Rosalvina Macias de Marquez, my mother, is one of the most confident women I have ever known. She told me that I can be that anything as long as I put my mind to it, and I believe her. She taught me that being a good person is being an accepting person, someone who appreciates and celebrates differences. To me, she will always be the best mom in the world.
Best Mom: Hung Khuu, Clairemont
Student: Brandon Khuu, Grade 12, Preuss School UCSD
My mom smiled at me and patted my head gently with the little energy she had. As a naïve fourth grader, I did not know what breast cancer really was or what troubles she was facing. After a few months, my mom gradually recovered to full health. My mother always said to my older brother and me, “Always try your best in everything you do and you will succeed in life.” After escaping the Vietnam War with her family and surviving breast cancer, she knew life was too short to live without pursuing your own passion and dreams. I took her advice to heart and worked my way through school to achieve that success that my mom always talked about. My mom’s perseverance in every obstacle she faced has truly been an accomplishment that I admired. I will continue to strive towards meeting her expectations of living life to the fullest.
Congratulations to all these deserving mothers!
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