Davanzo with Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley

DEARBORN—Sukayna Davanzo, a 13-year-old eighth grader who attends Lowrey
Middle School won third place in a prestigious statewide essay contest.

Only 10 winners were selected in the state. Students from across the
state participated in the 2014-2015 America & Me Essay
Contest sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance. The essays were based on
the topic, “My Personal Michigan Hero.”

Davanzo was the only student selected from the Dearborn Public School
District. Essayists visited the state capitol and met with Michigan Lieutenant
Governor Brian Calley.

Davanzo is an aspiring journalist, and her favorite subject in school is
English.

“I am very proud of my
daughter. She wants to be a writer one day and she is an excellent student in
school,” said Milah Davanzo, Sukayna’s mother.

In her essay entitled, “My Personal Hero” Davanzo discussed her
grandfather’s tough work ethic and the challenges and sacrifices he made for
his family after fleeing war torn Lebanon to begin a new life in America as an
immigrant.

“A hero isn’t somebody that is popular or prestigious. A true hero is
someone who is courageous without others watching; someone who performs
generous deeds for the sake of others and not for outside approval. Fouad
Makki, my grandfather, had an abundance of integrity, loyalty and generosity.
He always saw the bright side of things even if something went wrong. My
grandfather always had the ability to make you laugh and would do anything for
his family. He will always hold a special place in my heart and is My Michigan
Hero,” Davanzo wrote.

In the essay Davanzo added that after tension started growing between
Lebanon and Israel in 1970 her grandfather feared for his wife and nine
children so he set out alone to start a new life in America.

He worked in the Ford assembly line to make a living, had very little
money and could not speak English. Her grandfather stayed with residents in
Dearborn until he made enough money to buy a house and bring his wife and
children to America.