Beach Middle School students named America & Me essay contest winners

Three students from Beach Middle School were named local winners in the 50^th annual America & Me Essay Contest sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

Sarah Capper was first, Julia Kause was second and Trevor Ford was third. All three received award certificates for their achievements.

As the school’s first place winner, Capper’s name will also be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school.

Beach Middle School’s participation in the contest was sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance agent Rick Eder.

Capper’s first-place essay advances to the state level competition where top 10 essays in Michigan will be selected. The top 10 winners will be announced in April and each will receive a plaque, a medallion and a cash award of $2,000.

In addition, the top 10 essayists will be honored at a banquet in Lansing, meet with Michigan’s top governmental leaders, and be the featured guests at a Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball game dedicated in their honor.

Also part of the 50^th anniversary celebration year, each top 10 statewide school will be presented with a $1,000 check and another $500 if that school has been sponsored by a Farm Bureau Insurance agent.

A team of finalist judges, which includes a top Michigan government official and the sponsoring teachers of last year’s top two statewide winners, will determine the ranking of the top 10 statewide winners this year.

Several thousand eighth graders from more than 400 Michigan schools participated in the 2018-1019 America & Me Essay contest, which was conducted with the help of Farm Bureau agents across the state. The topic of the 2018-19 contest was “My Personal Michigan Hero.”

Started in 1968 and open to all Michigan 8^th-grade students, the contest encourages Michigan youngsters to explore the greatness of America and its people. As sponsor of the contest Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

Capper’s essay is below.