The Montgomery County Commission for Women (CFW) has announced the winners of its ninth annual “Girl Power Contest,” which invites residents to share their perspectives and celebrate women’s achievements in honor of Women’s History Month. Ada Ahuja-VanTassel, Kalyani Mishra, Eliana Cortez, and Natalie Jean were named the top winners in these four categories:
- Elementary school
- Middle school
- High school
- Adult
The results will be featured on the CFW website and social media channels. They were honored at a ceremony on Thursday, June 11, attended by County Executive Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González, Commission Chair Sheena Foster, Montgomery County Recreation Director Gabe Albornoz, and Montgomery County Public Libraries Director Darcell Graham. Winners also received a swag bag, including prizes and items from the CFW, Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), and Montgomery County Recreation (Rec).
“This year’s ‘Girl Power Contest’ invited participants to reflect on the extraordinary women whose courage, determination, compassion and leadership have made a difference in the lives of others,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The winning entries remind us that real-life superpowers come in many forms, from advocating for justice and breaking barriers to supporting family, strengthening communities and inspiring change. I congratulate all of this year’s winners for their thoughtful work and for recognizing the remarkable women who help shape our world. Their creativity and insight give us great hope for the future.”
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This year’s contestants were asked to respond to the following prompt: “Women past and present have shown incredible, real-life superpowers. Who inspires you, whether a historical figure, family member, neighbor or advocate, and how did she use her powers to make a difference?”
CFW commissioners, along with representatives from MCPL and Rec, served as judges. Entries could be submitted in various formats, including short stories, drawings, songs, poems or other creative expressions. Submissions were evaluated based on creativity and content.
The 2026 winners and honorable mention recipients are:
Elementary School
First Place: Ada Ahuja-VanTassel (School name withheld)
Honorable Mention: Eldana Tilahun (Chevy Chase Elementary School)
Middle School
First Place: Kalyani Mishra (Julius West Middle School)
Honorable Mention: Jeevika Prabu (Roberto W. Clemente Middle School)
High School
First Place: Eliana Cortez (Thomas S. Wootton High School)
Honorable Mention: Ishita Singh (Poolesville High School)
Adult
First Place: Natalie Jean
Honorable Mention: Catherine Zaranis
Winning entries can be viewed here: 2026 winners
The contest was sponsored by the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Montgomery County Public Libraries and Montgomery County Recreation.
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Visit the Commission for Women’s website for more information. The CFW can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter (X) and Instagram.
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Read the original article at mcgov