We are pleased to present the winners of the Fifth 2024 Fracchia Prize for original research about San Francisco history. On May 22nd, Mayor Breed hosted the award ceremony in the Mayoral office. The three winners received cash prizes and publication in the SFHS Panorama or Argonaut.
2024 Fracchia Prize Writing Prompt: Shine a Light on San Francisco’s Leading Ladies: Movers, Shakers, and Change-Makers.
Over time, San Francisco’s women have helped to shape the city in more ways than most people imagine. Our “leading ladies” include social activists, pioneers, poets, political giants, entrepreneurs—and much more! Some are famous, while others are largely forgotten. The 2024 Fracchia Prize contest invites you
to write about local ladies who helped pave the way for progress, freedom, and innovation.
First Place Winner: Winter Caine
Lowell High School, Junior
History Teacher: Ana Maldonado-Silva
Essay Title: “Wildflower Wildfire”
From the start of the essay, Winter uses simile to vividly describe Lillie Hitchock Coit “like a wildfire” who “…burned through her life at an intense speed, traveling and loving and dedicating herself to what she believed in.” Lillie Hitchcock Coit chased after fire trucks as a teen and became an honorary member of the volunteer fire brigade Knickerbocker Engine Company No. 5. She was beloved by San Franciscans for her individuality, irreverence for the social norms of the day, and fierceness. Later in life, Lillie travelled the world. Lillie honored the city that loved and raised her by leaving $225,000, to the city in her will, which later built Coit Tower.
Winter won $2,500 and her work will be published in the Summer 2024 issue of The Argonaut
Second Place Winner: Kylie Chau
Lowell High School, Senior
History Teacher: Lauretta Komlos
Essay Title: “The Journey and the Destination”
Kylie’s essay shines a light on the work of the Mujeres Muralistas and artist Ruth Asawa. Having seen and admired murals all her life, Kylie explains why public artwork, especially murals, “continues to inspire generation after generation of female muralists.” Yet, it is easy to take our public art for granted because it is so much a part of our everyday life. Ruth Asawa’s work includes murals at El Dorado Elementary School, the bronze art at Japantown, and her first public artwork, Andrea, in Ghiradelli Square. Asawa advocated for school art programs that would benefit underserved youth, which eventually led to the creation of the San Francisco School of the Arts, later renamed after her.
Kylie won $1,500 and her essay was published in the Quarter 3 issue of the Panorama
Third Place Winner: Zoe Amaya
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sophomore
History Teacher: David Pardini
Essay Title: “Amy Meyer Brings Parks to the People”
Zoe’s essay shines a light on Amy Meyer, who helped create and protect recreation spaces in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years and was one of the founders of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. While Meyers began as “a mother looking for a community project,” she has touched almost every San Francisco park space with her unique approach of bringing parks to where people live rather than acquiring land in remote areas. Zoe closes by listing some of her favorite spots for outside recreation, such as the top of Hawk Hill in Marin Headlands and El Polin Spring in the Presidio.
Zoe won $1,000 and her work will be published in the Quarter 4 issue of Panorama
