Chamber names May Day Mom

May 09, 2008 10:58 pm

— By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — Mother and daughter were like best friends Friday afternoon at the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce building.
“She is a very independent, smart little girl,” said Chavi Lee, recipient of this year’s May Day Mom honor, of her daughter, Jatime Medrano.
“Why, thank you,” said the 9-year-old Medrano, a third-grader at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Neosho.
Jatime’s nominating essay referred to her mother as “My Personal Super Hero.” Her piece emerged the winner from a field of approximately 400 entries.
As part of the annual contest sponsored by the chamber, Lee and her daughter were driven around town in a limousine on Friday as they collected prizes donated by local merchants.
The contest was open to all Neosho second- and third-graders. Students were asked to write an essay of 50 words or less explaining why they thought their respective mothers should be named May Day Mom.
“My mom is just the best mom ever,” Jatime said. She said she “deserves a really, really good” nominating essay.
The pair like to spend time playing, doing art projects and shopping.
Lee said she and her family, which includes a 3-year-old son, have lived in Neosho now for three years. They moved to this area from Portland, Ore., to be with her father, she said.
Lee said she was surprised when she learned she was the May Day Mom.
“I’m really proud of her,” she said. “She is a special girl.”
Jatime’s winning essay is as follows:
“The reason my mom should be (May Day Mom) is because she is like a mom to all my friends. When I walk inside, she starts to brush my hair and we play Uno on some occasions. We have girl time together. And when we go somewhere we sing in the car together. She gives me good food to eat so I’ll be healthy. And on Fridays we go to the library (to) get some books and a movie, and some pizza. She catches me whenever I fall. She warns me about the bad things and tells me about the good things. She sends me to bed early. She wakes me up at sunrise. She likes to play with my hair. My mom is super and please give her a chance. She really deserves this. And that’s why my mom needs to be (May Day Mom).”


Honorable mentions
The following three students received honorable-mention honors for their essays about their respective mothers:
Cheyenne Smidt, a third-grader at George Washington Carver Elementary School, for her mother, Treada McLean.
Hunter Hames, a third-grader at South Elementary School, for his mother, Dixie Hames.
Mandy Merideith, a third-grader at George Washington Carver Elementary School, for her mother, Tammy Merideith.

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