EDWARDSBURG — Edwardsburg Middle School students Kaitlynne McGrath and Madison Hartley have been named local winners in the 49th annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

These students, who placed first and second, received award certificates for their achievements. As the school’s first place winner, McGarth’s name will be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the middle school.

Several thousand eighth grade students, from more than 350 Michigan schools, participated in the 2017-18 America & Me Essay Contest. The topic of the contest was “My Personal Michigan Hero.”

The contest, which began in 1968 and is open to all Michigan eighth grade students, 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.