Republican Women Announce Essay Contest Award Winners Print
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Monday, 05 December 2011 12:54

  

Cooke County Republican Women’s have announced the winners of their 2011 Americanism Essay Contest. CCRW received 269 entries in the Junior Division and 32 in the Senior Division, from schools throughout the county.

 

The winner in the Junior Division (Grades 5-8) is Priyanka Bhakta, an eighth grader at Gainesville Middle School. Second place winner is Ashtyn Polk, a seventh grade student at Lindsay Independent School District. Austyn Gilbert, a seventh grader at Gainesville Middle School won third place. The Junior Division essays were about allegiance to the flag, and “What does the American flag mean to you?”

 

Brooke Walterscheid from Muenster High School won the Senior Division (Grades 9-12). Morgan Swank and Isaac Barnhill, both from Sacred Heart Catholic School, won second and third places respectively. All three winners in the Senior Division are 11th grade students. Their essays were about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, under the heading “What does being an American mean to you?”

 

Bhakta and Walterscheid presented their essays at the December 1 CCRW Christmas party and 20th Anniversary celebration. Each one received an award certificate and a $75 gift card.

 

Lynne Compton, Caring for America Chairman, coordinated the panel of judges, which included four additional CCRW members, Marilyn Garner, Reta Johnson, Judy Nehib and Jeanie Nickerson, along with guest judge Olivia Rivoire.

 

“We haven’t done essay contests for quite some time, and were pleasantly surprised by the great participation,” said Americanism Chairman Susan Hughes. “The judges appreciated the effort and thoughtfulness of the students.”

Cooke County Republican Women was organized in 1991, and is a member of both the Texas and National Federations of Republican Women. The club supports the Republican Party and conservative principles of government, and seeks to educate its members and the public about issues, candidates, and the political process. CCRW also serves the community through a variety of activities and programs.

 

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Picture attached: Senior Division winner, Brooke Walterscheid (left) and Junior Division winner, Priyanka Bhakta.

Last Updated on Monday, 05 December 2011 12:56