IRON RIVER — Three students from West Iron County Middle School in Iron River have been named local winners in the 51st annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

The three students who earned the awards for their school are Aubrey Bice, first; Caleb Strom, second; and Johnothan Swenski, third. All three received award certificates for their achievement.

As the school’s first-place winner, Bice’s name also will be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school.

Bice’s first-place essay now advances to the state competition, from which the top 10 essays in Michigan will be selected. The top 10 statewide winners, to be announced in April, will each receive a plaque, a medallion and a cash award of $1,000.

In addition, the top 10 essayists will be honored at a banquet in Lansing, meet with some of Michigan’s top governmental leaders and be the featured guests at a Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball game dedicated in their honor.

In addition to these honors, each school placing a student in the statewide top 10 will receive a $1,000 check.

Several thousand eighth-grade students from nearly 400 Michigan schools participated in the 2019 – 2020 America & Me Essay Contest, which was conducted with the help of Farm Bureau Insurance agents across the state. The topic of the 2019 – 2020 contest was “My Personal Michigan Hero.” Bice should take great pride in advancing to the state level competition.

A team of finalist judges, including a top Michigan government official as well as the sponsoring teachers of last year’s top two statewide winners, will determine the ranking of the top 10 statewide winners this year.

Started in 1968 and open to all Michigan eighth-grade students, the contest encourages Michigan youngsters to explore the greatness of America and its people.

As sponsor of the contest, Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.