By Sue Whitaker—
MUNCIE, Ind.—The Muncie Altrusa Club hosted the winners of the 36th Annual 4th Grade Essay Contest on March 17th at a luncheon at the Minnetrista Center. The winners of the essay contest were Evey Glidden, Burris; MyaNika Murphy, Longfellow; Eryn Smith, Selma; Joey Brooks, Yorktown; Ellie Penix, Wes Dell and Owen Roberts, West View.
Each student read their essay titled: “Reading is My Superpower Because…” to the assembled group. Following the reading each student was presented with a certificate, a backpack filled with school supplies, 12 books including a set the Amulet books and a gift card. Accompanying the students to the event was their classroom teacher, school principal, parents, and other family members. Each winning student’s teacher also received a gift card. To close the meeting the winners, lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The winners were selected from over 400 student essays in 25 4th grade classrooms in the Muncie and Delaware County elementary schools. Altrusa members selected the top 75 essays which were given to retired Ball State University Elementary Education professor Kay Stickle who made the selection of the six winners.
Literacy has been a primary focus of the Muncie Altrusa club since its beginning in 1923. Altrusa’s first Essay contest was held in 1987, so today we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Essay Contest.
The club’s dedication to service to the Muncie community and Delaware County is carried out through projects that encourage literacy and serve women and children. Current projects include:
• 4th Grade Essay Contest
• Distribution of books and backpacks to PreK—5th grade students
• Muncie Children’s Museum
• Little Free Libraries
• BSU Homecoming parade book distribution
• School Snack Attack Program at winter and spring breaks (over 1600 snacks and books were distributed)
• Muncie Soup Kitchen Lunch Program
• Purchasing and assembling “chemo blankets” for Little Red Door clients
• A Soldier’s Hands – members wrote over 100 notes to soldiers that were sent overseas as holiday greetings
• Holiday gift cards for Veterans in Delaware County
Anne Condran chairs the club’s Literacy Committee and Jennifer Johnson chaired the Essay Contest.
