McDonald’s sponsored “My Inspirational Story” Essay Contest Award Ceremony took place yesterday in PS. 24, lower East side. Host David Yi, from Daily News, guest speaker Donnie Kwak, senior editor at ESPN, and Jef Castro, photo-editor at Entertainment Weekly, were among the invitation list. In addition, McDonald’s Martial Arts Dance Crew delivered a special performance at the ceremony.

Ten outstanding essays were chosen, and amongst these ten contestants, who are all students age from 8 to 11 years-old, 3 were chosen respectively for 3rd, 2nd, and 1st prizes. 

Generasian’s very own staff members Joey Wang and Emily Q. Lu had the chance to conduct interviews with the guests, performers, and host of the ceremony, as well as Ronald McDonald and Michael Sullivan,  owner of McDonald in Queens and Brooklyn.

When questioned about the recent controversial ESPN headline regarding Jeremy Lin, Donnie Kwak, being an Asian-American employee at ESPN, expressed his shock towards the discovery. However, Kwak does not believe the intention of the former editor, who has been since fired from ESPN, was malicious; it only showed his incompetence of being in the position of an editor.

For more information about the interview, please follow our blog and check for updates of a video interview in the near future!