Three students from Dowagiac Middle School have been named local winners in the 45th annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

The three students who earned awards for their school are first-place winner Ciara Hinton, second-place winner Elizabeth Turczi, and third-place winner Haley Soderbloom.  All three received award certificates for their achievement.

As the school’s first-place winner, Hinton’s name will also be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school.

Dowagiac Middle School’s participation in the America & Me Essay Contest was sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance agent Jeff Neumann of Dowagiac.

Ciara’s first place essay now advances her to the state level competition, from which the top 10 essays in Michigan will be selected. The top 10 statewide winners, who will be announced in April, will each receive a plaque, a medallion and a cash award of $1,000.

In addition, the top ten essayists will be honored at a banquet in Lansing, meeting with Michigan’s top governmental leaders. They will also be the featured guests at a Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball game dedicated in their honor.

A team of finalist judges that includes a top Michigan government official and the sponsoring teachers of last year’s top two statewide winners will determine the ranking of the top ten statewide winners this year.

Several thousand eighth grade students from nearly 450 Michigan schools participated in the 2013 – 2014 America & Me Essay Contest, which was conducted with the help of Farm Bureau insurance agents across the state. The topic of the 2013 – 2014 contest was “My Personal Michigan Hero.”

Started in 1968 and open to all Michigan eighth grade students, the contest encourages Michigan youngsters to explore the greatness of America and its people. As sponsor of the contest, Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.