A Newburgh, Indiana fourth-grader who moved in from Japan won a state essay contest
NEWBURGH, Ind. − You don't have to be from Indiana to love the state. You don't even have to be from America. One fourth grader emphasized that with his essay in a statewide contest, and it helped him beat out 1,200 other entrants.
The winner, Yuto Hotta, 9, attends J.H. Castle Elementary in Newburgh.
Hotta was awarded first place in the Statehood Day Essay Contest for his submission, titled "I Love Being a Hoosier." The Statehood Essay Contest takes place each fall and is open to all Indiana fourth-graders. This year's theme was "Living IN Indiana." Students were asked to write about what it's like living in the state.
The program is administered and sponsored the Indiana Statehouse Tour Office, Indiana Center for the Book, Indiana State Library, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, and Indiana Historical Society. Contests winners were honored at the Statehood Day Celebration on Monday at the Indiana Statehouse.
The essays are judged by a panel of Indiana State Library staff and volunteer educators.
Hotta prize was a $529 deposit into a College Choice 529 Savings Plan that can be used towards college.
Hotta entered the contest after strong encouragement from his teacher, Bryant Keen.
"There are so many reasons that Indiana is a great place to live," is the opening line to Hotta's essay.
One of his favorite things about living here is the winter. His first time seeing snow after moving here, he ran outside without any gloves or coat. Snow was rare in his former home in Nagoya city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, wher ehe lived until April 2021.
Hotta and his family moved to Indiana in 2021 after his father was transferred for his job at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana.
Having been born and raised in Japan, Hotta's English was limited when he first moved to Indiana, but he said people have been helpful to him.
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"It made me feel welcome and accepted," Yuto Hotta wrote in his essay.
When he reads his essay, he will be joined by his two parents, who said they can't help but be proud of his win.
"It's good to practice (his English) and he's really enjoying being here and (we are) proud of him," said his mother, Yuko Hotta.
The move to Indiana was initially an anxious one for the Hotta family. They worried about the uptick in hate crimes against Asian-American families amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the FBI, crimes against Asian-Americans jumped 76% in 2020. But the Hottas said that, if anything, the family has been grateful for how helpful people have been since the move.
"We are so thankful and appreciate for Indiana people," said Yuko Hotta.
When Yuto Hotta isn't winning essay contests, he's teaching his friends Japanese words and learning about American culture. He's a Cincinnati Reds fan loves who to play baseball and is a member of Cub Scouts. He also likes to ride his bike, he said.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Castle Elementary Fourth Grader Wins Statehood Scholarship Contest
