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Essay Contest

Annual Essay Contest: Discover Your Roots; Enrich Your Future

In a spirit of engaging the youth to appreciate their local heritage, this unique contest challenges students to open a dialogue with their grandparents and parents — in response to the question, "What do your grandparents want you to remember from the past?" After the interview(s), in a 750-2,500 word essay, students share memories, events, experiences, biographies, architectural landmarks, cultural stories, traditions, recipes, lessons learned, and the daily life of people who have lived in Ferdinand, Birdseye, Schnellville, St. Anthony, Bretzville, Kyana, Mentor, St. Marks, and the surrounding area. Winners read their essays to the Ferdinand Historical Society and family members, including grandparents, at the awards reception in the spring, and essays are often published in The Ferdinand News.

This Annual History Essay Contest is open to Forest Park Jr.-Sr. High School, Grades 7-12.

First year: 2000.

Between 25 and 100 entries submitted annually; over 900 entries so far

Contest is conducted during the spring semester.

Essays are judged on creativity, meaning, historical significance, accuracy, English skills, and documentation.

First place recipient receives $100; second place $75; third place $50; three honorable mention recipients each receive $25.

2012 Winners

2010 Winners

1st Place: Jill Rahman, "Sisters of St. Benedict: Reasons for Remaining"

2nd Place: Lauren Barth, "Ancestry of Dubois County"

3rd Place: Gina Bettag, "Running a Marathon: Ralph Bettag"

Honorable Mention: Alex Luebbehusen, "Courage and Tears: Fire at Ferdinand Furn"

Honorable Mention: Darienne Cherry, "Horrors of Adolf Hitler: Firsthand Experience"

Honorable Mention: Grant Welp, "Hysteria in Indiana Basketball"

2009 Winners

1st Place (High School): Kaitlin Emmert, "Holocaust"

2nd Place (High School): Brody Gress, "A Community"

3rd Place (High School): Amy Wendholdt, "Family History"

Honorable Mention (High School): Kaci Kreilein, "Inventions"

Honorable Mention (High School): Morgan Blessinger, "The Great Depression"

1st Place (Junior High): Madeleine Pelzel, "Dubois County Mountain Dew"

2nd Place (Junior Highl): Rachel Metz, ""

2008 Winners

1st Place: Nicole Kerstiens, "Risky Business in the Creek: The Turtle Hunting Experience"

2nd Place: Bethany Adams, "The Word of God: Preaching with My Papaw"

3rd Place: Kelsey Harmon, "A Tasteful Tale: A Life Story of My Grandma"

First Honorable Mention: Kyle Gutgsell, "Meant to Be: The Life Story of Betty (Haas) Welp"

Second Honorable Mention: Karla Knust, "Schoolhouse Rock: Rock and Asphalt Replace an Old Schoolhouse"

Third Honorable Mention: Kelsey Lange, "Back Then"

2007 Winners

1st Place: Sara Uebelhor, “Man of Steel: Biography of Albert Lubbers”

2nd Place: Kelsey Vonderheide, “Our Heritage, Our Roots: Understanding the Past to Prepare for the Future”

3rd Place: Ali Wylam, “Recollection of the Past: A Look Back at the Life of Eloise Pfister”

4th Place – Honorable Mention: Breanne Fleck, “Life’s Transformations, a Journey Through my Grandmother’s Life”

5th Place – Honorable Mention: Sarah Stetter, “Part of a Pair: A Biography of my Grandmother Marie Dall”

6th Place – Honorable Mention: Jenna Brinkman, “The Problem Solver, the Life of Cletus Leo Brinkman”