Student Essay Contest
PORTLAND, ME—Nine area students won prizes in the Portland Flower Show essay contest sponsored jointly with University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Student essays addressed the statement, “Think about a plant (tree, flower or vegetable – real or created), pretend you are the plant and write a short life story telling what plant you are, where you live, about your life, and what you need to grow.” Winners will receive their awards at the Show’s opening preview on Wednesday, March 10.
Maine residents between the ages of 6 and 18 were invited to participate in this contest. Essays were judged on (among other things) creativity, focus, age appropriateness, and passion for topic.
Three prizes ($50, $30 and $20) will be awarded in each of three age categories (6–9; 10–13; and 14–18). The prize winners in the 6- to 9-year-old category are Dustin Chambers (8) of Biddeford, first place; Ella Boyd (9) of Falmouth, second place; and Nolan McCullough (7) of Gorham, third place. In the 10- to 13-year-old group, Helen Cunningham (10) of Portland came in first place, Madeline Logan (13) of Portland came in second, and Sam Davies (10) of Falmouth came in third. In the 14- to 18-year-old group, Emma Sapat (15) of Falmouth came in first place, Elizabeth Johnson (16) of Biddeford came in second, and Kate Spies (16) of Topsham came in third.
For more than 90 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land-grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county.
