Winners of the 53rd annual America & Me Essay Contest Announced
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan is pleased to announce the 10 statewide winners of the 2021-’22 America & Me Essay Contest. As “Michigan’s Insurance Company”, we proudly salute these outstanding Michigan students. This year’s winners competed against more thanover 3,000 other students from nearly 200 Michigan junior highs and middle schools.
The student essays for this, the 53rd annual contest, were based on the topic, "My Personal Michigan Hero." The final ranking of the winners was determined by a panel of judges comprised of Farm Bureau Insurance’s CEO Don Simon; contest founder Jack Stucko; and one teacher from a top 10 statewide school winner from the 2020-‘21 contest year.
The America & Me Essay Contest was founded by Farm Bureau Insurance in 1968 to embolden Michigan youth as they explore their roles in America's future. Since then, we have shifted our focus slightly to encourage students to write about their personal Michigan heroes—someone they know personally who encouraged and inspired them to live better and achieve more. Since its inception, over 500,000 Michigan 8th graders have participated in the contest.
The contest winners will each receive a plaque, medallion, and a cash award of $1,000, another $1,000 for the school they attend, and another $500 to the school if the school has been sponsored by a Farm Bureau Insurance agent.
The contest winners will each receive a plaque, medallion, and a cash award of $1,000. Another $1,000 will go to the school attended by the winning student with the potential for an additional $500 if the school has been sponsored by a Farm Bureau Insurance agent.
Important Notice: The traditional annual America & Me Essay Contest Awards Day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in Lansing. The top 10 students and their teachers from across the state will be invited to participate in the day-long group recognitions. In the event we are not able to meet in person, the students will still receive their awards and recognitions for their commendable achievement.
The statewide winners from this contest year, their final rankings, and the name of students’ respective schools are listed below. One of the schools was sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance agent, who is also listed.
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First Place:
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Michaela Spitzley , Most Holy Trinity School, Fowler
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Second Place:
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Ian Sampson, Whitehall Middle School, Whitehall
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Third Place:
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Luke Wuotinen, St. Regis Catholic School, Bloomfield Hills
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Fourth Place:
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Trey LaValley, Romeo Middle School, Romeo
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Fifth Place:
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Victoria Mudra, Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic School, Warren
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Sixth Place:
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Sydney DeKuiper, East Rockford Middle School, Rockford; Agent Sponsor: Kelly Obenauf |
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Seventh Place:
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Nicholas Gorday, St. Mary School, Mt. Clemens
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Eighth Place:
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William Duzan, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, Detroit
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Ninth Place:
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Elizabeth Gursky, West Iron County Middle School, Iron River
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Tenth Place:
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Gabriela Diaz, St. Stephen School, New Boston
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To read this year’s winning essays, click here.
Be sure to get your school signed up this fall when we kick off the 54th America & Me Essay Contest. Information will be mailed out to all middle schools and junior highs in Michigan and available on our website. For details, contact Lisa Fedewa.