Published: March 06, 2008 04:30 pm            

In Your View — 03/07/08

Ponderosa student wins essay contest

A Ponderosa Elementary School student — Baylee Perry — was selected Boyd County winner in the 2007-2008 Grandparent of the Year essay contest, sponsored by AARP Kentucky and the Kentucky Retired Teachers’ Association (KRTA). She also won the Eastern District essay contest which includes 11 other counties.

Baylee is among thousands of Kentucky fifth-graders who participated in the fifth year of the essay competition. Students at participating schools submitted essays to their fifth-grade teachers who selected each school’s winner. Each participating school winner and school receives certificates.

As county winner, Baylee will receive a framed certificate, and she wins a $50 savings bond for being the district winner. Baylee will now participate in the state finals.

The Boyd County Retired Teachers honored Baylee at its March 6 meeting. The essay contest will culminate with the naming of a state winner on April 18 at the annual meeting of KRTA, where both the winner and the “Grandparent of the Year” will be introduced.

The essay competition is part of an initiative designed to recognize the significant contributions that older Kentuckians make toward shaping the lives and values of the commonwealth’s young people. In Kentucky and nationwide, increasing numbers of adults 50 and older are the primary caregivers to minor children. The 2000 census showed nearly 36,000 grandparents in Kentucky serve as primary caregivers for their grandchildren.

Retired teachers in Boyd County appreciate all students, teachers, principals who participated in the county essay contest. We’re proud of Baylee and wish her the best of luck during the state contest.

Beverly Tomlin, president, Boyd County Retired Teachers

        

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