By Ilsa Minor iminor@dailypress.net ESCANABA — Three Holy Name Catholic School students were named local winners in the 55th Annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance. The three students were Kyle Smith, Emma Parlato, and Sarah LeMire, who placed first, second and third, respectively. All three students received award certificates for their achievement. Smith’s name will also be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school to commemorate his first-place win. Smith’s essay now advances to the state level competition. At the state level, ten essays will be selected, the authors of which will be announced in April. Each of the state winners will receive a plaque, a medallion, and a cash award of $1,055. Each of the schools represented in the top ten will be given a check by Farm Bureau Insurance Agency for $1,055. If the school was sponsored by a Farm Bureau agent, the school will receive an additional $555. The American & Me Essay Contest Awards Day is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 in Lansing. The top ten students and their teachers from across the state will be invited to participate in the day-long group recognitions. If for some reason, the event cannot be held in-person, the students will still receive their awards and recognitions for their achievement. Several thousand eighth grade students from nearly 200 Michigan schools participated in the 2023-2024 contest. The topic of this year’s contest was “My Personal Michigan Hero.” A team of finalist judges, including a top Michigan government official and the sponsoring teachers of last year’s top two statewide winners will determining the ranking of the top ten statewide winners. The America & Me essay contest was launched in 1968 and is open to all Michigan eighth grade students. It encourages Michigan students to explore the greatness of America and its people. As a sponsor of the contest, Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

By Ilsa Minor

iminor@dailypress.net

ESCANABA — Three Holy Name Catholic School students were named local winners in the 55th Annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

The three students were Kyle Smith, Emma Parlato, and Sarah LeMire, who placed first, second and third, respectively. All three students received award certificates for their achievement. Smith’s name will also be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school to commemorate his first-place win.

Smith’s essay now advances to the state level competition. At the state level, ten essays will be selected, the authors of which will be announced in April. Each of the state winners will receive a plaque, a medallion, and a cash award of $1,055.

Each of the schools represented in the top ten will be given a check by Farm Bureau Insurance Agency for $1,055. If the school was sponsored by a Farm Bureau agent, the school will receive an additional $555.

The American & Me Essay Contest Awards Day is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 in Lansing. The top ten students and their teachers from across the state will be invited to participate in the day-long group recognitions. If for some reason, the event cannot be held in-person, the students will still receive their awards and recognitions for their achievement.

Several thousand eighth grade students from nearly 200 Michigan schools participated in the 2023-2024 contest. The topic of this year’s contest was “My Personal Michigan Hero.”

A team of finalist judges, including a top Michigan government official and the sponsoring teachers of last year’s top two statewide winners will determining the ranking of the top ten statewide winners.

The America & Me essay contest was launched in 1968 and is open to all Michigan eighth grade students. It encourages Michigan students to explore the greatness of America and its people. As a sponsor of the contest, Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.