Medford 8th graders share their Laws of Life

For more than a quarter century, students at Medford Area Middle School (MAMS) have participated in a “Laws of Life” essay contest sponsored by the school district and the Medford Kiwanis Club with the support of area businesses.

Over that time, more than 4,000 eighth grade students have written essays for the contest. The contest is designed to make students think about principles they would like to live by or “Laws of Life.” It features essays written for English classes.

Teachers help students think through what might be important principles in their lives and how they might explain that principle. The essays are submitted as a classroom assignment. The teachers then do a preliminary judging of the essays, recommending 30 finalists. A panel of Kiwanis members reads through all the finalists and then meets to decide on the winners. They were divided by honorees, merit, honorable mention and top place winner groups.

Cash prizes were given to all the award winners. The awards are funded by Taylor Credit Union, Spectrum Insurance Group Hedlund Agency, The Star News, Prevail Bank, Abbybank, Dixon Greiner Reality, Nicolet National Bank and Jensen, Scott, Grunewald and Shiffler S.C., Forward bank and Hawkins Ash.

The Kiwanis Club pays out $1,500 in prizes to the honorees. Those placing in 16-30th in the contest each receive $20 Chamber Gift Certificates, those placing 11th to 15th place each receive $25 cash, those in 6th to 10th place each receive $50 cash. The fifth place receives $100 cash, fourth place receives $125, third place receives $150 cash, second place receives $200 cash and first place receives $250 cash.

Beyond the chance for winning prize money the contest shows that young people are listening and paying attention, even if they sometimes appear not to be.

The winning essays are as follows: