Washington, DC, June 24, 2025 – The U.S. Immigration Council honors 11-year-old Lurie, attending Chapin School in New York City, and celebrates her 28th Celebrate America Creative Writing Contest Award.
Lou’s poem, “American Poetry,” tells the story of his grandparents’ escape from Vietnam during the war and explains how he calmed down as a refugee in a small town in Louisiana. Although they initially encountered hostility and suspicion, her grandmother became one of the first Vietnamese American teachers in the community, helping to raise a greater sense of belonging among neighbors by sharing family spring roll recipes. Lou still makes her grandmother’s spring rolls today. Remember my grandmother’s motto. Read the poem here.
Lou continues to protect her grandmother’s love for sharing and ties around food, describing herself as a “proud New Yorker with a foodie heart,” and always wants to explore new dishes and share her culinary adventures with family and friends.
Celebrate America Creative Writing Contest is challenging fifth graders across the country to reflect on and write about the meaning of immigration and being a comfortable country. At a time when it has expressed its disapproval of policies highlighting the massive deportation and detention of Americans, the Council of Immigration is actively working on education programs that promote a more comprehensive and welcoming vision for the United States.
Luu won the award at the 2025 Immigration Impact Reception held in Aurora, Colorado on June 20th.
The generous support of the Murthynayak Foundation has made the Celebrate America Creative Writing contest possible.
Lou, her family, and council representatives can talk about the contest.
