The Americanism Essay contest is an annual event conducted by Elks lodges across the United States and its five territories. Local lodges, such as Flora Elks Lodge #1659, conducts the contest amongst area school districts (Flora, Clay City, Louisville, Full Armor, Homeschooled). The competition is divided into four divisions (5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th). Schools/grades/classes that wish to participate submit three essays from each division per school district to the local Elks lodge. The local Elks lodge then selects the top three essays per division from all the essays submitted by the schools. The top three essays from each division are then sent to the Elks district office, where yet another competition is conducted amongst all the Elks lodges in the district, i.e. Flora, Fairfield, Mt. Vernon, Olney, Lawrenceville, Centralia, Carmi and a few more. The district picks the top three essays from each division from those essays submitted by the different lodges in the district and send them off to the state competition (8 districts). State follows suit and picks the top three in the state from each division and sends off to the national competition (50 states, plus U.S. territories). The grand lodge (national) picks the top three from each division.
Clay City Junior High had five students whose essays were recognized at the district level, with two moving onto the state level, and one student taking home second in state. The students recognized by Flora Elks Lodge #1659 at the district level were: 6th grade - Irl Greathouse, 7th grade - Reid Artis and Jocelyn Thompson, and 8th grade - Zhoee Gerard and LouEllen Harvel. Greathouse and Artis' essays advanced to the state level. Greathouse was awarded second place in state. The students were rewarded with certificates and gift cards.
Clay City CUSD 10 is incredibly proud of these students for representing our school so well at the district and state levels. Thank you Cory Hodges and Tony Richars for recognizing our students on behalf of the lodge. Also, thank you to junior high social studies teacher Mrs. Hutton for having the students write the essays.
Front (L to R): Reid Artis, LouEllen Harvel, Jocelyn Thompson, Irl Greathouse, Zhoee Gerard
Back (L to R): Cory Hodges, Mrs. Phegley, Mrs. Hutton, Tony Richars