Potential Magazine Summer 2016 | Page 30

Edgewood Students Participate in Optimist Club Essay Competition Edgewood Academy’s students participated in the 2016 Optimist Club International Essay Competition. Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization made up of more than 2,500 local clubs whose members work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, in their communities, and in themselves. The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The topic of the essay contest was “Lead by Example: Reality or Fiction.” Edgewood Academy senior Emilee Ellis placed second at the competition and Jackson Tate, Edgewood Academy junior, was awarded first place. Tate will advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship, funded by the Optimist International Foundations. Ellis and Tate will attend an honorary breakfast on March 9 at the RSA Towers in downtown Montgomery, where they will read their essays aloud and be awarded cash prizes. Macon East Student Awarded DAR Good Citizen Award Macon East’s Grace Allen was selected as one of five area recipients for this year’s Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award. The DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest, created in 1934, is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. This award recognizes individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. These students are selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree. Grace was honored to attend this year’s luncheon at the Montgomery Country Club and be recognized by the Montgomery Chapter of DAR for her achievements. Montgomery Academy Students Participate in Model UN Thirteen Montgomery Academy students recently participated in LAMP’s 29th annual Model UN convention. Junior Ellen Park researched, planned, and started MA’s first Model UN club this school year and single-handedly spearheaded the school’s participation. Students enjoyed two days of sessions and time to caucus informally with many of the nearly 600 other students from local schools. During Model UN conferences, students typically act as delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN Committees. For instance, Ford Cleveland, a delegate from the Ukraine, was on the World Health Organization committee, and had to battle to keep Russia from taking his country over, shutting down Ukrainian borders and releasing a super flu in the country to test its effects. Margaret Canary was a member of the International Court of Justice. At the closing ceremonies, Henry Hamlett received a Verbal Commendation from the Security Council for his role as a delegate. Students who participated were: Margaret Canary, Ford Cleveland, Lindsey Ferraro, Henry Hamlett, Francie Hill, Pio Jung, John Koo, Anna Kate Lindsey, Ellen Park, Gabbi Pohlman, Elizabeth Robertson, Caroline Sellers and John Wakefield. L10 | Summer 2016 www.potentialmagazine.com