The Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple honored the top three winners of its 2024 National Heritage Essay contest at a special luncheon held May 1 at the Woodland Country Club.
The winners were, from first to third place, Taylor Smith, Riverside Intermediate School, Fishers; Evan Tiedemann, Carmel Middle School, and Emmet Weintraut, St. Luke Catholic School, Indianapolis.
“This essay contest asks students to address the topic What Freedom Means to Me,” Contest Chairman Bob Collins said. “We hope that the contest complements 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 Contest 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 2,137 students in 78 classrooms from 16 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.
Mr. Smith received a check for $400, Mr. Tiedemann received a check for $300, and Mr. Weintraut received a check for $200. Each Grand Prize Winner also received a commemorative plaque for themselves and their school, and their teachers each received a $150 honorarium.
The Sertoma Club has sponsored this contest for 43 years. It also provides financial support for 20 central Indiana charities, by hosting casino parties for businesses, clubs, and organizations.
Learn more about the Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple at BroadRippleSertoma.org.