Pictured L to R are Natasha Leland (third place), Logan Arnold (first place), club president Sam Frazier and Ashley Lengel (second place.)
WABASH,Indiana — Wabash Optimist Club honored three area high school students who were winners in the Optimist International Essay Contest during the club’s regular meeting at Ugalde’s Restaurant Wednesday. The students were honored with medallions and a certificate of achievement. Fifty nine students had written essays, competing at the local level, using the theme ”Lead by Example: Reality or Fiction.”
First place winner Logan Arnold was honored with a gold medal. He read his winning essay to the club. It has been sent to Muncie for judging at the Regional level. Logan, a freshman at Southwood High School, was accompanied by his parents, Heather and Brian Amos, Southwood Principal Tim Drake, and his English teacher Michelle Sparling.
Second place winner Ashley Lengel was honored with a silver medal. She is also a freshman at Southwood High School. She was accompanied by her parents, Amy and Clark Wendt, as well as the MSD representatives mentioned above.
Third place winner, Natasha Leland, from Northfield High School received a bronze medal. She was accompanied by her parents Tara and Josh Leland, and her English teacher Samantha Kramer.
The local club issued certificates of appreciation to all of the English teachers who entered students in the competition and certificates of achievement to all of the student entrants. The club also expressed appreciation to the three judges for this year’s competition Pam Campbell, Pam Guthrie, and Beth Miller.
The essay contest is one of the major projects sponsored by the local club each year. Other projects include an oratorical contest and a local scholarship. The Optimist motto is “Bringing Out the Best in Kids”. Their positive service projects reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about the Wabash Club, you may contact club president Sam Frazier at Big City Paints at 563-4232. Meetings are at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesdays at Ugalde’s.