Essay Contest Winners Receive Awards From Rotary

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Winners of the Rotary District 5300 Hensel Ethics Essay Contest were announced last week by the Rotary Club of Mesquite, the sponsoring organization for the local contest.

The contest was open to all members of the Beaver Dam High School sophomore class this year. All entries were read and judged by Rotary Club Members in coordination with Steve Feick, the teacher consultant of the Rotary Interact Club at Beaver Dam.

The first place award, $50 gift card, was given to Angelica Gomez,15. Second place, a $25.00 gift card, went to Jimena Gutierrez, 16. Third place went to Veronica Ruiz.

The first and second place winners came to the Mesquite Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, April 21, to give a reading of their essays to the full membership.

In her essay, Gutierrez expressed her belief that everyone should have the right to express their own opinions without repercussions from others who may disagree. She also pointed out that listening to rap music inspires her, sometimes even at 3:00 in the morning. Her family, who is not so inspired by these late night sounds, found words of wisdom in her essay: “Earplugs are a solution to a lot of life’s problems.”

That brought a few chuckles from the Rotarians in the audience.
Gomez essay expressed how we all should treat others with kindness and compassion. She believes “bitterness lives in so many of our hearts.”

Gutierrez and Ruiz are both Rotary Interact Club members. The Mesquite Rotary Club has sponsored the Beaver Dam Interact Club for the past twelve years. Upcoming president Linda Gault started the club and has worked with the young people for the past twelve years.

“The purpose of the Club is to teach the young people the value of community service,” Gault said. “The motto of Rotary is “Service above Self.”

The Rotary Club also gives out five $1000 Scholarships to graduating Beaver Dam High School students each year.