Students in grades fifth through eighth in Wabash County were given the opportunity to participate in this year's Americanism Essay Contest, "How Can Patriotism Be Demonstrated?" sponsored by the Illinois Elks Association.  Each Lodge throughout the State selected their "Top Three" essays in each Division - Division I:  fifth and sixth grades; Division II: seventh and eighth grades, which were then submitted to the District for judging.  Each  District winner was then submitted to the State for judging.   State winners were announced in May.  There were no entries this year in seventh and eighth grades.  Fifth and sixth grades had many essays submitted.  First-place winner was awarded $50; Second-place winner was awarded $25; Third-place winner was awarded $15.  Each winner was awarded a Certificate of Merit.  The top 3 winning essays were submitted to the South Central District for District judging.  Lodges in the District include:  Carmi, Centralia, Fairfield, Flora, Lawrenceville, McLeansboro, Mount Carmel, Mount Vernon, Olney, and Salem. 

Louise Acree, Americanism Chairman of the local Elks Lodge, was pleased to announce the local Lodge winners:  First Place:  Lane Alka-Mt. Carmel Grade School; Second Place:  Isaiah Courter-Allendale School; Third Place: Kathryn Andrews-Allendale School. 

Lane Alka received Second Place in the South Central District and was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the District.