Coronado Students Nominate Two of San Diego's 50 Best Moms

Over weekend Deborah Bukolt and Laura Lynn Meek of Coronado were named two of San Diego's 50 Best Moms as part of Time Warner Cable's 10th annual essay contest.

The essays written by Michael Bukolt and Victoria Rose Meek, both seventh-graders at , were chosen out of 2,500 entries received this year.

A panel of journalists, politicians and community leaders judged the essays. Panelists included Jodi Kodish of NBC 7/39 and Marcella Lee of KFMB, Carlsbad City Councilman Keith Blackburn, San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald, state Sen. Christine Kehoe, and yours truly, Suzette Valle (2006 Best Mom), among others.

The event is part of Time Warner Cable's outreach program, which celebrates the great things mothers do in the communities the company serves.

While the event’s luncheon provides a chance to honor moms, the student essay contest promotes good writing skills and is really the heart of the program.

“We found that through Best Moms, not only are the students challenged to enter an essay contest, moms are honored in a unique way, because their child is able to express all their mom’s wonderful attributes,” a spokesperson for the cable company said.

Laura Lynn Meek was selected based on what her daughter, Victoria, wrote about her.

“My mom is the most wonderful role model I could ever have. In between running my brother and me everywhere, my mom always has time to listen to me and my problems. 

She never gives bad advice. In fact, her advice gets better and better with every conflict I come across.  Every day she somehow teaches me little lessons that wind up making a big impact on my life. 

I hope to be just like her when I grow up because she has an incredibly creative mind.”

Deborah Bukolt was very surprised when she found out she had been selected.

“Wow! I am still on cloud nine that my son took the time to write and submit his essay for San Diego's 50 Best Moms!” she said.

Below is an excerpt from her son Michael's winning essay.

“Last year with a stress-fractured hip from running too much, my mother, with help from one other adult and a large group of crazy middle school kids, put on a benefit dinner that raised enough money to build a well in a school in Haiti, so that the whole community could have clean fresh water, without walking three miles carrying five gallons. 

With a large amount of help, energy and commitment from my mom, we raised $3,000-plus dollars, and there was no way that we couldn’t have done anything so amazing without all the help she put into it.”

When asked what this recognition meant to her, Bukolt said she felt both honored and humbled. 

“I know that what our family endures and the efforts I make as a mom are not unique or any different than the reality that thousands of military families endure every day with no accolades or recognition,” she said.

“Words cannot express how much I appreciate and am honored by son’s heartfelt words and how proud I am of his character that shines through his words.”