Middleboro Lodge #1274 Elks Care, Elks Share
George Washington talked about it in his farewell address. John Adams, while President, often spoke about it in his speeches. And untold numbers of Americans bring up the subject during times of strife and conflict.
This year, young people will weigh in on the subject as they participate in the
Americanism Essay Contest and write about the topic, “What Does Patriotism
mean to me?”
The contest has separate divisions for fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade
students. For each division, first place receives $1,000, second place gets $500,
and $250 goes to the third-place winner.
The following entry rules govern the contest:
- Eligible participants must be students enrolled in one of the four divisions during the 2024-25 school year.
- The essay must be no more than 300 words.
- The essay must be typed or legibly printed in ink and submitted by the student.
- Essay must be submitted to the Elks Lodge administering the contest at the entrant’s school.
- The student must be identified by name, home address, grade, school attended, and sponsoring Elks Lodge.
All Essays will be judged on the following criteria:
- Originality. Students should avoid the use of trite or worn-out words and phrases.
- Development Of Theme. Students should stay focused on ideas and thoughts and should avoid rambling.
- Mechanics. Participants should use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Deadline: The essay must be submitted to the Lodge by December 15, 2024.
Excerpt from the Grand Lodge Newsletter
Article by DAVID JURMU, Grand Lodge Fraternal Committee Member
