The Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple Announced Winners of the 2017-2018 National Heritage Essay Contest.

The Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple has sponsored the National Heritage Essay Contest for 37 years. The contest is open to sixth grade students in public, private and parochial schools in the Greater Indianapolis area. The topic students were asked to address in their essays was "What Freedom Means to Me."

Sertoma believes that participation in the National Heritage Essay Contest encourages students to better understand the founding principles of our country and to consider how those principles affect their lives today.

This year, 18 schools totaling 81 classrooms submitted essays, with over 2000 essays written. From these essays, 27 finalists were identified for consideration as one of the three Grand Prize winners.

The students, parents, relatives, teachers and principals attended a special luncheon hosted by the Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple during which the Grand Prize winners were presented with plaques, copies of the Constitution and The Bill of Rights, as well as monetary awards.

The three Grand Prize winners selected were:
First Place - ($375) Isabella Wilburn, The Orchard School, parents Dr. Victoria and Sgt. Chris Wilburn, Teacher Mr. Justin Burris.
Second Place -($250) Sean Loub, Clay Middle School, parents Carolyn and Paul Loub, Teacher Ms. Kristie Meyers.
Third Place - ($200) Anna Williams, Riverside Intermediate School, parents Christina and Major Richard Williams, Teacher Ms. Brie Toste.