Three SHS Student’s Essays Win Local Contests and Qualify for the State Optimist Essay Contest

February 16, 2021

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Seward High Sophomore, Madison Dominy of Seward, was selected the First Place winner of the local, Seward Optimist Club essay contest. She is the daughter of Jessica and Matt Dominy.  First Runner-up for the contest is Noah Fields, also a Sophomore at Seward High and the son of Kevin and Deidra Fields. The Third Place finalist is Emily Yelden of Seward, who is the daughter of Lynn and Marsha Yelden.  

The students received their awards at the Seward Civic Center on February 15, 2021.  On the local level, the winning essay writers receive an Optimist medal and Certificate of Award for the top three places. All other entries were considered Honorable Mention and also received certificates.  

“We were most pleased with the number of entries this year in the contest,” stated Melissa Pohl, SHS Teacher Sponsor for the Optimist Essay Contest.  “We appreciate these extra student writing opportunities, as there are so few and limited in scope.   This essay contest is of a high quality and very professionally orchestrated.  Thank you to all that support writing and students.”

The top three essays will now compete at the State Level and are considered State Finalists, competing for the top prize of a $2500 scholarship, presented by Optimist International.  

 The students each wrote a 750 word essay on the topic “Reaching Your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”  The students each prepared their paper and will now have it read by the judge’s at the State Level.  On the State Level, Madison Dominy is representing the Seward Optimist Club, Noah Fields is representing the Lincoln Evening Optimist Club and Emily Yelden is representing the Lincoln West Optimist Club.

Lana Urban, with the Seward Optimist Club, is the 2021 State Optimist Essay Contest.  Clark Kolterman is the local Optimist Essay Chair and Melissa Pohl is the Seward High Teacher Sponsor for the contest.   Each student will read their essay at the local Seward Optimist Club meeting in the future.

Last year, Madalyn Lobmeyer-new Seward High graduate, was the Seward Optimist Essay representative and won First Place and the $2500 Optimist Essay Scholarship!

For more information on this program or the Seward Optimist Club, contact the Seward Optimist Club President, Morgan Kozisek with the email morgan.kozisek@esu6.org