The Young Men’s Institute, a Catholic organization, is centered on mutual aid, moral improvement, and loyalty to the Catholic Church and the country.
It was founded in 1883 in San Francisco and operates across 21 councils in three states. It fosters a sense of community and offers various benefits, including scholarships and social events to its members.
Each year, the Young Men’s Institute conducts an essay contest addressing themes concerning social relationships or inquiries into the Catholic Church’s perspectives on specific situations.
Riordan had the honor of having five students recognized with awards this year for participating in the contest with their outstanding entries.
Sasha Ureta ’25 tied for 15th place, Juliana Murguz ’25 and Bobby Gutierrez ’25 tied for 9th place, and Julian Johnson ’25 received 8th place. Each of these students also received a $200 check. Mason Lum ’25 ranked 4th place and received $600 for his writing efforts.
President Tim Reardon stated, “For decades the YMI writing contest has been one of the most recognized competitions in the Bay Area. The fact that Riordan students have been so successful over the past few years says a lot about the caliber of our students and the dedication of our English teachers.”
The prompt for this year’s essay contest was focused on the influence of admired leaders on young individuals’ behavior. Participants were asked to reflect on the leaders they respect and how their future aspirations would enable them to serve as positive role models for upcoming generations.
Bobby Gutierrez ’25 selected Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a congresswoman of Latina descent, and said, “I admire her lasting strength and the notable impact that she has had on minorities, as well as her bravery to not let her own opinions be silenced.”
AP Composition and Language teacher Richard Sylvester ’01 was overjoyed by his students’ success. He expressed, “I’m so proud of Riordan’s writers as a whole. So many other students wrote great essays that unfortunately did not get recognition but were definitely memorable and worthy. I’m proud of the students who put their heart into the writing process, and I hope they enjoy the unique challenges but also the fun involved with the revision process.”
