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Two students at Immanuel Lutheran School are winners in essay contest

Two students from Immanuel Lutheran School in Alpena have been named local winners in the 48th annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

The students, who earned first and second place awards for their school, are Gabriella Standen (first place) and Dan Hinrichs (second place). Both received award certificates for their achievement.

As the school’s first place winner, Standen’s name also will be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school. Her essay now advances to the state level competition, from which the top 10 essays in Michigan will be selected.

The top 10 winners, who will be announced in April, will receive a plaque, medallion and cash award of $1,000.

In addition, they will be honored at a banquet in Lansing, meet with Michigan’s top governmental leaders and be featured guests at a Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball game dedicated in their honor.

A team of finalist judges that include a top Michigan government official and the sponsoring teachers of last year’s top two statewide winners will determine the ranking of the top 10 statewide winners this year.

Several thousand eighth grade students from nearly 400 Michigan schools participated in the 2016-17 America & Me Essay Contest, which was conducted with the help of Farm Bureau Insurance agents across the state. Topic of the contest was “My Personal Michigan Hero.”

Started in 1968 and open to all Michigan eighth grade students, the contest encourages Michigan youngsters to explore the greatness of America and its people.

As sponsor of the contest, Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

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