The Americanism Essay Contest is an annual contest held by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Committee to inspire the spirit of patriotism in the nation’s young people. Each year, the contest presents children across the country with a theme that asks them to consider some aspect of what it means to be an American. The children are then asked to express their thoughts about this theme in no more than three hundred words.
Salem Elks Lodge #1678 Americanism Chairperson, Elizabeth Shuler, sent essays to the local grade school districts served by the Lodge: Franklin Park, Iuka, Odin, Raccoon, Kell, South Central, Salem Apostolic Academy, and Selmaville. 43 essays were received, and the Salem Lodge is proud to announce the following winners who will go on to compete on the district level.
Grade 5: Max Bookhout, son of Chris and Brittany Bookhout; Khaeler Williams, daughter of Eric and Holly Williams; and Greyson James, son of Kyle and Traci James. All 3 students attend Selmaville School.

Left to Right: Elizabeth Shuler, Americanism Chairperson; Angie Courtright, Selmaville School Instructor; Khaeler Williams, Selmaville School; Max Bookhout, Selmaville School; Greyson James, Selmaville School; Steve Lindsey, Salem Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler; Kent Geary, Salem Elks Lodge.
Grade 6: Gia Ward from Selmaville School, daughter of Carrie Makenzie; Ryder Fields from Kell School, son of Dustin and Anna Fields; and Ellie Barnfield from Kell School, daughter of Chris and Andrea Barnfield.

Left to Right: Elizabeth Shuler, Americanism Chairperson; Cyndel McKiness, Kell School Instructor; Angie Courtright, Selmaville School Instructor; Gia Ward, Selmaville School; Ryder Fields, Kell School; Ellie Barnfield, Kell School; Steve Lindsey, Salem Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler; Kent Geary, Salem Elks Lodge.
Grade 7: Dylann Rosenthal from Selmaville School, daughter of Mandy Mason and Jason Rosenthal; Gabby Gaston from Selmaville School, daughter of David and Tara Gaston; and Hunter Phillips from Kell School, son of Howard Phillips.

Left to Right: Elizabeth Shuler, Americanism Chairperson; Cyndel McKiness, Kell School Instructor; Angie Courtright, Selmaville School Instructor; Dylann Rosenthal, Selmaville School; Hunter Phillips, Kell School; Gabby Gaston, Selmaville School; Steve Lindsey, Salem Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler; Kent Geary, Salem Elks Lodge.
Grade 8: Raquel Vittitow from Raccoon School, daughter of Tracy and Fatma Vittitow; Leonardo Garcia from Franklin Park School, son of Gregorio and Bertha Garcia; and Mason Gallatin-Beecher from Raccoon School, son of Kathryn Bradford-Szezebiewski.

Left to Right: Elizabeth Shuler, Americanism Chairperson; Cyndel McKiness, Kell School Instructor; Angie Courtright, Selmaville School Instructor; Dylann Rosenthal, Selmaville School; Hunter Phillips, Kell School; Gabby Gaston, Selmaville School; Steve Lindsey, Salem Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler; Kent Geary, Salem Elks Lodge.
The contestants are all fifth through eighth graders and compete in four divisions. The children enter the contest at the lodge level, like Salem Elks Lodge #1678, then the top essays advance in the district level, and then the state level. Each state association selects the best essay in each division and submits the essays to the Grand Lodge Fraternal Committee, which determines the national winners. Each first-place winner at the national level is presented with $1000 prize, second-place winners receive a $500 prize, and third-place winners receive a $250 prize. The theme of this 2024-2025 contest was: “What Does Patriotism Mean to Me?”