The Central Ohio BBB Laws of Life Essay Contest is a competition of the best Laws of Life essays written by middle grade students in the 22 county Central Ohio service area and is facilitated at the middle school level through the Westerville Gifted Education, Art, and English Language Arts Departments.
Westerville’s four middle schools were invited to submit essays and cover art. The following students were judged as top entries in their buildings and some qualified as one of the 45 regional semi-finalists. From the semi-finalists, 21 essay and art cover regional finalists have been announced.
Blendon:
- Stephen Vilardo, grade 6 – building level top entry
- Zoey Ward, grade 6 – regional semi-finalist
- Elizabeth Potterf, grade 6 – regional semi-finalist
- Sammantha Robinson, grade 6 – regional finalist
Genoa:
- Emily Smith, Erin Berridge, Krish Nair, Caroline Cable, Adam Keith, and Adriane Thompson, grade 8 – building level top entries
- Kendel Seabury, grade 8 – regional semi-finalist
- Cameron Robertson, grade 8 – regional semi-finalist
- Matt Boller, grade 8 – regional finalist
Heritage:
- Isaac Severing, grade 8 – building level top entry
- Lily Miller, grade 8 – regional semi-finalist
- Mihalis Sarakinakis, grade 8 – regional finalist
Walnut Springs:
- Luke Leedy, Shad Stephens, and Carissa Clark, grade 8 - building level top entries
- Jasmine Johnson, grade 8 - regional semi-finalist
- Chloe Yingling, grade 8 – regional semi-finalist
- Joella Akomeah, grade 7- the winning art cover design for the region
Regional finalists will receive cash prizes, recognition at a banquet on May 12, and a certificate of recognition signed by the Governor.
The BBB Center for Character Ethics sponsors the regional contest to recognize the achievements of the exceptional youth who participate in their local school contests, and to encourage schools and communities to engage in this enriching and valuable experience.
The Laws of Life Essay Contest, created in 1987 by Sir John Templeton, inspires young people of all backgrounds and abilities to focus on their values and principles by challenging students to discover through reflection and writing the principles, people, and experiences that have helped to shape their life. The contest offers students the opportunity to take a stand for what they believe in.