Three students from Beach Middle School – Michael Milne, Nick Beatty and Charis Vollmar – were recently chosen as first-, second- and third-place winners in the 44th Annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.
Several thousand 8th-grade students from about 450 schools across the state participated in the contest, according to a press release, and the students wrote about “My Personal Michigan Hero.”
All three received certificates for their achievements and Milne’s name will be engraved on a plaque that will be on display at the school.
Milne’s essay will advance to the state competition, where a top 10 will be chosen and announced in April. The top 10 winners will each receive a plaque, medallion and a cash award of $1,000. In addition, they will be honored at a banquet in Lansing, meet government leaders, and be featured guests at a Lansing Lugnut baseball game.
The school’s participation in the contest was sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance agent Rick Eder of Chelsea.
The contest began in 1968 and is open to all Michigan 8th-grade students and “encourages Michigan youngsters to explore the greatness of American and its people.”
