Our Engagement and Outreach volunteer readers were not daunted by the packets and packets of essays. Among them were 11 bright spots who had dared to tackle the topic of Preserving the Past to Power the Future - specifically, what events, beliefs or traditions they believed made their community/city/town what it is today. Which would they keep and which would they change?

There's nothing like our annual essay contest to remind us that the children are listening and paying attention. Here are a few of their ideas:

"I would keep town festivals, Small Business Saturday and farmers markets." Maggie Simmons (Tome School)

"My name is Jaxson; I have hearing loss. We cannot preserve the past or have positive power for the future if some of our citizens are left behind." Jaxson Ackerman (Greater Grace Christian Academy)

"If I were Mayor, my top priority would be to foster a sense of community and promote local businesses." Kyah Blanch (Laurel Elementary)

Kyah, Jaxson and Maggie join eight other students with reflections on activities that make their town shine, while also weighing in on traditions that need to be changed or implemented to make towns safer, healthier or simply a better place to live. Congratulations to the winners, their teachers and the towns from which they live.