Jackie Robinson’s daughter honors young students for essays

RUFFS DALE, Pa. (AP) — The daughter of Jackie Robinson has honored two western Pennsylvania students for their award-winning essays inspired by the baseball legend’s life.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports Robinson’s daughter, Sharon Robinson, presented certificates to 12-year-old Renah Kozemchak and 11-year-old Calyn Jones during a Thursday ceremony at Yough Intermediate Middle School in Ruffs Dale, located southeast of Pittsburgh.

The girls were among 20 winners nationwide in the 20th annual “Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life” essay contest sponsored by Major League Baseball.

The contest is designed to teach students in grades four through nine about the obstacles Jackie Robinson faced when he became the first black American in the major leagues in 1947.

Sharon Robinson has been traveling to schools across the country to present certificates to contest winners.