The Americanism Essay Contest challenged 2025 participants to consider the theme, “What Americanism Means to Me”. Local teachers representing grades five, six, and seven provided classroom time for their students to compose essays of at least 300 words. Four hundred seventy-six students submitted essays to the judges from the Elks Lodge. Reading and judging these entries requires about 20 hours of volunteer time. All participants in the essay contest received a certificate of participation, and class winners received a coin set. The winning school essays for each grade competed against others at the District level. The contest then moved to state and national competitions. Winners were honored at the May 7th, 2025 Youth Recognition Banquet. For more on the Banquet click here.
Shown left to right:
CVEL Chairman Howard Prater; State 5th grade 1st Place Winner Sawyer Ingram from Pelham Oaks Elementary; CVEL ER Shannon Hubbard
Shown left to right:
CVEL Chairman Howard Prater; State 6th grade 3rd Place Winner Harper Cox from Pelham Park Middle School; CVEL ER Shannon Hubbard
CVEL Chairman Howard Prater; , State 7th grade 1st place winner Maria Barros of Helena Middle School; CVEL ER Shannon Hubbard.