HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.2 Recognition of the 2026 Dublin Pride Week Contest WinnersAgenda Item 3.2
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
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DATE: June 16, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Colleen Tribby, City Manager
SUBJECT:
Recognition of the 2026 Dublin Pride Week Contest Winners
Prepared by: Henry Siu, Recreation Coordinator
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will recognize the winners of the 2026 Dublin Pride Week Photography,
Poster, and Essay Contests.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recognize the contest winners.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for Dublin Pride Week activities is included in the Fiscal Year 2025 -26 Budget.
DESCRIPTION:
The 2026 Dublin Pride Week volunteer celebration took place from Saturday, April 2 5 to
Saturday, May 2. The theme was “Rooted in Dublin, United by Pride”. The City hosts the
“Nature in Our Backyard” Photography Contest and the Dublin Pride Poster and Essay Contest
each year as part of the Dublin Pride activities.
2026 Nature in Our Backyard Photography Contest
The eighth annual photo contest was open to photographers who took pictures in Dublin over
the last 12 months. The submission period ran from February 1 through March 3 1, 2026, with a
total of 73 submissions received. A panel of judges selected the top 10 photographs, which
were posted to the City’s website from April 20th to April 30th for a public vote. The top four
photographs based on the public voting results will be awarded gift cards and certificates of
recognition from the City. The grand prize winner will receive a $200 gift card, the first-place
winner will receive a $100 gift card, the second -place winner will receive a $50 gift card, and
the third-place winner will receive a $25 gift card. Mike’s Camera of Dublin sponsored the 202 6
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event and donated large metal prints that will be provided to the contest winners. Additionally,
framed photographs will be displayed in the Civic Center lobby.
2026 “Nature in Our Backyard” Photography Contest Winners:
Grand Prize: Rajesh Subramanian, "Fog Advisory”
First Place: Ganesh Panneer, “Unapologetically Free”
Second Place: Pankaj Bhargava, “Thunderbolt”
Third Place: Lacey Bockhaus “The W orld is your Oyster…Mushroom"
2026 Dublin Pride Week Poster and Essay Contests
Students in grades K-12 from all public and private schools in the City of Dublin were invited to
participate in this year’s contest. Seventy-nine submissions were received.
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs Dublin/San Ramon chapter cohosts this contest
and handles the judging of the posters and essays. Grand prize winners will receive a $100 gift
card, first-place winners will receive a $25 gift card, and second-place winners will receive a
$15 gift card. Lastly, a “Classroom Award” of $200 is presented to the class teacher of the
Grand Prize winners of both the poster and essay contests. This gift can be spent at the
teacher’s discretion and is intended to assist with classroom activities and supply costs.
2026 Poster Contest Winners:
Best Overall
o Grand Prize: Ronika Pillarisetty, 7th Grade, Quarry Lane School
K – 1st Grade
o First Place: Adeline Tse, Kindergarten, Amador Elementary
o Second Place: Mihira Paruchuri, Kindergarten, Kolb Elementary
2nd-3rd Grade
o First Place: Aria Chan, 3rd grade, Dublin Elementary
o Second Place: Lindsey Li, 2nd grade, Green Elementary
4th-5th Grade
o First Place: Shikha Karthi, 5th Grade, Quarry Lane School
o Second Place: Annika Majumder, 5th Grade, Kolb Elementary
6th- 8th Grade
o First Place: Min Kim, 8th Grade, St. Raymond’s
o Second Place: Mehar Verma, 6th Grade, Wells Middle
9th-12th Grade
o First Place: Ruby Wang, 9th Grade, Dublin High
o Second Place: No submissions
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2026 Essay Contest Winners:
Best Overall
o Grand Prize: Navya Mehta, 8th grade, Fallon Middle
K – 1st Grade
o First Place: Lawrence Tse, 1st grade, Amador Elementary
o Second Place: Adeline Tse, Kindergarten, Amador Elementary
2nd-3rd Grade
o First Place: Zhiyuan Tian, 2nd grade, Kolb Elementary
o Second Place: No submissions
4th-5th Grade
o First Place: Kiara Wanchoo, 4th grade, Amador Elementary
o Second Place: Annika Majumder, 5th grade, Kolb Elementary
6th- 8th Grade
o First Place: Mirae Kim, 7th grade, Wells Middle School
o Second Place: Bo Kim, 6th grade, Wells Middle School
9th-12th Grade
o First Place: Elaine Gu, 9th grade, Quarry Lane School
o Second Place: No submissions
All winning photographs, posters, and essays from the 2026 contest are posted and available
on the City’s website for public viewing.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
None.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Council Agenda was posted, and winners were notified.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
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Dublin Pride Week:
Rooted In Dublin, United By Pride
City Council Meeting
June 16, 2026
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Dublin Pride Week
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“Nature in Our Backyard” Photography
Contest
"
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Essay Contest
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Essay Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner: Navya Mehta,7th Grade, Fallon Middle School
Grades K-1 Grades 2-3 Grades 4-5 Grades 6-8
Kindergarten
Amador Elem.
4th Grade
Amador Elem.
5th Grade
Kolb Elem.
6th Grade
Wells Middle
Grades 9-12
8th Grade
Wells Middle
9th Grade
Quarry Lane
School
1st Grade
Amador Elem.
2nd Grade
Kolb Elem.
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Poster Contest
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Poster Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner: Ronika Pillarisetty,7th Grade, Quarry Lane School
Kindergarten
Amador Elem.
Grades K-1 Grades 2-3 Grades 4-5 Grades 6-8
3rd Grade
Dublin Elem.
5th Grade
Quarry Lane
School
8th Grade
St. Raymond
Kindergarten
Kolb Elem.
2nd Grade
Green Elem.
5th Grade
Kolb Elem.
6th Grade
Wells Middle
Grades 9-12
9th Grade
Dublin High
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Thank You
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