The Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple honored the top three winners of its 2023 National Heritage Essay Contest at a special luncheon held Wednesday at the Woodland Country Club.
The winners were:
- First place: Hermela Kiflu, St. Luke Catholic School, Indianapolis
- Second place: Matthew Organ, Creekside Middle School, Carmel
- Third place: Sofia Shadyul, Northview Middle School, Indianapolis
“The essay contest asks students to address the topic, “What Freedom Means to Me,” Sertoma Club Chairman Bob Collins said. “We hope that the contest compliments teachers’ efforts to develop their young students’ critical thinking and writing skills, and we believe that participation will encourage students to better understand the founding principles of our country and to consider how these principles affect their lives today.”
The National Heritage Essay Context is open to sixth-grade students attending public, private, and parochial schools in Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville, and Indianapolis.
This year’s contest winners won out over 2,100 students in 85 classrooms from 18 schools. Classroom winners were selected from the top three submitted by each classroom teacher, and received $50 each. Seventeen finalists were selected from the classroom winners and received $100 each.
The three Grand Prize winners were guests at the Sertoma Club’s National Heritage Recognition Luncheon, along with their teachers, principals, and their immediate families.
Kiflu received a check for $400, Organ received a $300 check, and Shadyul received $200. Each of the three also got a commemorative plaque for themselves and their schools, and their teachers each received a $150 honorarium.
The Sertoma Club has sponsored this contest for 43 years. The Club also provides financial support for 20 central Indiana charities by holding casino parties for businesses, clubs, and organizations.
Learn more about the Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple at BroadRippleSertoma.org.