Recently, the Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 and the Vt. Elks Association held an American Essay Contest for students at the Riverside Middle School level. The Theme for the essay was, “What is your American Dream?”.
Participants must be in one of four divisions being the 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grades. Essay length is not to be more than 300 words. Essay must be typed or legibly printed in ink. Essay must be submitted as written (or typed) by the entrant. Essay must be submitted for judging to the Elks Lodge nearest to the address of the entrant.
This year’s 1st place winner was Annalise Bladyka Mitchel, a 6th grader at Riverside Middle School. She is the daughter of Anne Bladyka. She received a plaque from the Springfielld Elks and a plaque from the Vt. Elks as the state winner. Annalise Bladyka’s essay will be entered in the National Elks Essay contest and she will be competing with the other 49 states Elks winners for the National Elks title.
Shown is 6th grader at Riverside Middle School, Annalise Mitchel winner of the Elks American Essay Contest, with Exalted Ruler Carolee Murchie and Springfield Elks Americanism Chairman, Jacqueline Driscoll-Page.
News item submitted by Mike Gunn.