Goodrich – Two eighth-grade Goodrich Middle School students won the first round of the ‘America & Me? essay contest when they wrote about their fathers.
Jeremey Johnson won first place in the school; Matthew Mount won second place.
This year’s theme for the contest, a 35-year Farm Bureau project, was ‘My American Hero?.
Jeremey, 13, wrote ‘how great my dad’s been, and how he’s helped me through anything I’ve ever had problems with.?
As the school’s first-place winner, Jeremey’s name will be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school, said Lisa Fedewa, Farm Bureau essay contest coordinator.
Jeremey admits his dad wasn’t the first person who came to mind when he thought about heroes.
‘Me and my friends talked about superheroes at first,? Jeremey said, although his dad immediately came to mind when talk turned to real-life heroes.
Writing the essay was a very personal experience for Matthew, 14.
‘My dad died a couple years ago, so I wrote about how he was influential in my life,? Matthew said. ‘He was the first person who came to my mind.?
It’s important to have heroes, say the boys.
‘You need guys you can look up to,? said Jeremey.
Certificates for the award will be presented to Jeremey and Matthew during an end-of-the-year ceremony, said Dr. Jerry Lawrason, principal at Goodrich Middle School. Jeremey’s essay will next advance to the state competition.