Hallow is pleased to announce the winners of its first-ever teen devotional writing contest, which gave students at Hallow partner schools the opportunity to craft prayer content that could be included inside of the Hallow app.
After receiving hundreds of submissions, all reviewed by Hallow’s content team, we’re excited to announce 12 winning entries:
- God Calls Abraham – Mikayla Cranick – Mercy High School (Middletown, Conn.)
- Moses – Lucas Shalch – Cathedral Catholic High School (San Diego, Calif.)
- God Calls Samuel – Chloe Heim – Frassati Catholic High School (Spring, Texas)
- Ruth – Amelia Payan – Frassati Catholic High School (Spring, Texas)
- Elijah – Maeve Gosman – Mercy High School (Middletown, Conn.)
- Esther – Abby Womack – Frassati Catholic High School (Spring, Texas)
- Annunciation – Tarin Larson – Mercy High School (Middletown, Conn.)
- Fishers of Men – Gustin Cornwell – Frassati Catholic High School (Spring, Texas)
- Jesus Calling – Ambrielle Calixte – Bishop Verot High School (Fort Myers, Fla.)
- Mary and Martha – Teresa Benevente – Loretto Academy (El Paso, Texas)
- Woman at the Well – Isabel Harkness – Bishop Verot High School (Fort Myers, Fla.)
- James and John – Grace Galleta – Mercy High School (Middletown, Conn.)
Hallow will work with students from Frassati High School and our professional production staff to record and produce these prayers and make them available inside of the Hallow app in the coming months.
Chloe Heim, one of the winners and a student at Frassati, was excited to be recogized–and to contribute to the faith lives of others.
“I’m so grateful that the Hallow team has chosen to use my writing on the app,” she said. “It’s really such an amazing thing that I had the chance to help other people form their devotions.”
Another winner, Teresa Benevente, a student at Loretto Academy in El Paso, Texas, wrote a reflection on the Gospel passage in Luke’s Gospel where Jesus visits Martha and Mary–and Martha struggles with Mary being present with Him while Martha herself is busy serving and hosting.
“We fall into that same trap. We tell ourselves we’re too busy to pray, to rest, to just be still. We say God will understand—and He does,” she wrote. “But we forget that He’s not just waiting patiently in the background. He’s inviting us. Longing for us. Wanting to be a part of the real, everyday version of us—not just the polished, ‘churchy’ version.
The challenge inspired her to share her hope in Christ with others.
“There’s more grace in God than sin in humanity,” she said.
To learn more about how Hallow partners with schools, visit Hallow for Schools or email schools@hallow.app.