Elks present essay awards to three local students
Elks from Lodge 380 attended the year-end award assembly at St. John’s Catholic School and presented both award certificates and cash prizes from the Arkansas State Elks Association to the three students who won state prizes in the Americanism Essay Contest for 2021.
Anthony Mahfouz, 13, won first place in the seventh- and eighth-grade division; Ruby Vaughn, 11, won third place in the fifth- and sixth-grade division; and Ryan Stiles, 12, won third place in the seventh- and eighth-grade division.
All three had won awards in the local competition at Lodge 380 in Hot Springs, then went on to win at the state level, competing against winners from all 13 lodges in Arkansas, a news release said.
The Americanism Essay Contest is held annually by all 2,000-plus Elks lodges in the United States and has been held for the past 50 years.
The theme for 2021 was “What Does It Mean to Love Your Country?” The theme for 2022 will be announced at the Elks National Convention in Atlanta on July Fourth.
All area students in fifth through eighth grades are welcome to enter.
More information will be available in the fall through local schools and at Lodge 380 by calling 501-525-1020.
The following is the state winning essay by Anthony Mahfouz, 13:
“What Does It Mean to Love Your Country?”
Loving your country means different things to different people. Some people join the military because they love their country. Some people fly a flag because they love their country, other people celebrate holidays, such as the 4th of July, because they love their country. Many people go into politics because they love their country, or may decide to write music because they love their country. To me, loving my country means that I respect everyone that is a part of my country.
There are many ways I can respect everyone that is a part of my country. If I disagree with someone on a topic, I still respect that they can have an opinion, and that I must only disagree, not fight over the topic. I also need to treat everyone fairly, and not to treat someone better or worse because they are different from me or someone else. I should respect all first responders and honor those who have fought in the military. To respect everyone that is a part of my country, I need to learn the history of my country so that I can respect the people that have helped shape my country. I should pay attention in school so that I can learn the history of my country and know past and present laws and rights. Learning how to vote when I am old enough to participate is a way to respect the people that have allowed me to participate in voting.
Respecting everyone that is a part of my country is how I love my country. Doing this can lead to many things, such as less conflict, peaceful resolutions, and being a good and contributing citizen to our country.