AMLE Announces Middle School Student Sound Off Contest Finalists

What’s it really like being a middle schooler in 2024? Hundreds of middle schoolers from around the world answered that question, responding to the student sound off contest held to celebrate Middle Level Education Month this past March. While “sounding off,” students could consider a variety of different prompts for inspiration but were encouraged to tap into their creativity and respond in the format that most appealed to them. From podcasts and poems, to video games and advice columns, the submissions were profound and offered keen insights into today’s middle grades experience. While AMLE congratulates the contest finalists, we also offer a big “thank you” to all of the students who contributed their voices to this project. We look forward to featuring your voices at AMLE24: The 51st Annual Conference for Middle Level Education this November.

Middle School Student Sound Off Winner

Gabrielle Ferguson

Grade 8
Rockwood South Middle School
Fenton, Missouri

Gabrielle Ferguson

Middle School Student Sound Off Finalists

Devin_Connolly

Devin Connolly
Niu Valley Middle School

Audrey and Adhonis

Audrey Sharghi and Adhonis Ortiz
American Overseas School of Rome

Kucharski Soundoff

Courtney Kucharski

Courtney Kucharski
Franklin Avenue Middle School

Sienna Mann

Hayes Soundoff

Sienna Mann
Pierce Middle School

Gus Shettler

Gus Shettler
Pierce Middle School

Middle School Student Sound Off Honorable Mentions

Audrey Burk, Mirah Dougherty, and Sally Hecker
Pierce Middle School

Sofia Neroni and Bianca Ricceri
American Overseas School of Rome

Violet Norton
Paragon Preparatory

Ruth Stallard
Woodstock Union High School and Middle School

Bresser SoundoffIan Bresser
Pierce Middle School
Play Video Game

Cooper Soundoff
Addison Cooper
Hartsville Middle School

Graarup SoundoffLiva Graarup
American Overseas School of Rome

Hamid SoundoffSehr Hamid
Chartiers Valley Middle School

Herbert Soundoff
Dana Herbert
Walker Mill Middle School

Lamas Soundoff
Jean Carlo Lamas
Preston Middle School

Palo Soundoff
Sophia Palo
Hampton Middle School

Suhalj SoundoffEmma Suhalj
American Overseas School of Rome

Ubarana SoundoffMelissa Ubarana
Jupiter Middle School of Technology

Villegas SoundoffJade Villegas
Walker Mill Middle School