Pana Elks Lodge 1261 announced the winners of the local Grand Lodge Americanism Essay Contest. “What Does Service To Your County Mean To You?” was the essay theme for this year’s contest. The contest is open to fifth through eighth grade students. The top three local essays go to the district level and those judged the best head to the state Elks contest. The state winners are eligible for the national contest where the winning essay is awarded $1,000.
Local winners received $25 for first place; $15 for second place; and $10 for third place. Pana Lodge Exalted Ruler Tom Latonis made the presentations.
Winners in fifth grade, all from Pana Elementary School are, from left, ER Tom Latonis; first place, Tobin Washburn; second place, Camden Mora; and third place, Rylan Davis.
In sixth grade, from Sacred Heart School, the second place winner Izayah Magnussen receives his prize from ER Latonis. First place winner Ashlyn Anderson and third place winner, Emma Beyers, were absent.
Sacred Heart School seventh grade winners, with ER Latonis, are Kyle Ohmes, first place and Maggie Beyers, third place. Second place wnner Ryker Holthaus was absent.
In eight grade, from Sacred Heart School with ER Latonis are Reagan Blodgett, first place and Jacob Wolf, second place. Third place winner was Kyla Oller, who was absent.
There were no entries for sixth, seventh and eighth grade from Pana Junior High School and no fifth grade entries from Sacred Heart School.
