DENVER, NC – Kate Graham, a senior at East Lincoln High School, recently won the East Lincoln Optimist Club’s essay contest based on a theme of “Today’s Choices Shape My Future.” The East Lincoln Optimist Club offered the opportunity for area students to compete intellectually as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for 2008. The East Lincoln Optimist Club received essays from students attending East Lincoln High School, the Lincoln Charter School and Southlake Christian Academy.
The essays were judged by a panel of esteemed citizens of the East Lincoln community: Rev. Dr. Val Rosenquist, Pastor of the Hills Chapel Methodist Church; Mr. Carl Robinson, Lincoln County School Board Member; and Ms. Kitty Soesbee, retired East Lincoln High School teacher. The scores awarded by the judges resulted in three finalists: Kaleb Beard from Southlake Christian Academy; Kate Graham from East Lincoln High School; and Jeffrey Gardner from the Lincoln Charter School. All finalists received award medallions, and additionally, Kate Graham was awarded a $250.00 scholarship for the first-place honor. In addition, her essay will be sent to the district level to be judged along with winners from other Optimist Clubs in the district. The winner of the district competition will be sent to the international-level contest. College scholarships up to $6,000.00 are available for top winners at the district and international levels.
(Photo: Essay Contest Winner, Kate Graham, and East Lincoln Optimist Club President, Pete Capece.) -more-
“Kate Graham did a wonderful job of articulating this year’s theme. She expressed herself well through the essay and deserved the honor of first place,” Club President Pete Capece said. “All of the finalists deserve recognition for their superb essay submissions.”
The East Lincoln Optimist Club has served the East Lincoln community youth since 1968 and has participated in the Optimist Essay Contest for a number of years in the past, but this is the first time the club has tried to resurrect the program in recent years. The East Lincoln Optimist Club was encouraged by the success of this year’s essay contest and will add the Optimist International Oratorical Contest next year to the opportunities offered to the East Lincoln youth.
(Three Essay Finalists (Left to Right): Jeffrey Gardner, Lincoln Charter School; Kaleb Beard, Southlake Christian Academy; and Kate Graham, East Lincoln High School.)
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