BIDDEFORD – The Rotary Club of Biddeford-Club, according to a May 25 news release, has a proud tradition of holding a “What the Word Family Means to Me” essay competition for eighth-grade students from Biddeford Middle School, Loranger Memorial School, Saco Middle School, Saint James School, and Thornton Academy Middle School. The students focus on the importance of family in their lives and their perception of what it means to be called family. The essays are judged based on relevance to the topic, quality of composition, creativity, and grammatical structure.

On May 18, the club held an awards ceremony and invited the top three winners from each school to attend and be recognized, issuing $2,250 in prize money. The first-place winner from each of the participating schools was invited to read their essay before an assembly of Rotarians, parents, school administrators, and teachers.

“Rotarians are people of action, and problem solvers, who make it a point to support our youth,” said Brenda Pollock, club president. “Not only is this one of our favorite annual events, it allows us to connect with these brilliant young adults, knowing they are our future Rotarians who will continue the great work of our organization,”

In an effort to help the students make an impact in their community, in addition to reading their essays before the group, first-place winners were awarded a certificate of achievement, a $100 donation to the charity of their choice, and a $100 cash prize. Second-place winners received a $75 donation to the charity of choice, and a $75 cash prize, and third-place winners were awarded $50 to the charity of their choice and a $50 cash prize.

The student-chosen charities included: Alzheimer’s Association, American Brain Foundation, Animal Welfare Society, Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, Maine Children’s Cancer Program, Maine’s Veterans Home, Pitch In for Baseball and Softball, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, TAMS Student Assistance Fund, The Root Cellar, UNICEF, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Congratulations to all winners of this year’s competition:

First-place winners: Janessa Johnson (BMS), Alexis Sweeney (LMS), Julia Beaudette (SMS), Julia Blanchette (SJS), Emile Olins (TAMS). Second-place winners: Cordelia Kane (BMS), Ava Alivizatos (LMS), Addison Gould (SMS), Elloise St. Germain (SJS), Caroline Colson (TAMS). Third-place winners: Christina Mpemba (BMS), Mia Perez (LMS), Noah Fullerton (SMS), Sasha Dezdel (SJS), Jaxon Kurkul (TAMS).

For more information on how to become involved with Rotary, visit www.biddeford-sacorotary.org.

 

Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club recently awarded winners for their 28th annual essay contest, from left, Mia Perez, Loranger Memorial School; Cordelia Kane, Biddeford Middle; Julia Blanchette, St. James School; Emile Olins, Thornton Academy Middle School; Julia Beaudette, Saco Middle School; Janessa Johnson, Biddeford Middle School.

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