Read the students’ winning writing works at cherokeescout.com
Murphy – Maverick Imlay, a junior at Hayesville High School, is good at many things. He runs track, plays football and is an expert at peanut butter fudge brownies.
But it took the Tri-County Democratic Women’s Club for Imlay to realize he was also good at writing.
“My history teacher [Mark Modica] encouraged me as a writer and helps me understand politics,” Imlay said.
He would need that understanding to enter the inaugural essay contest sponsored by the Tri-County Democratic Women’s Club. With just under 50 members, the club serves Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties with a variety of volunteerism and leadership initiatives. As part of their educational outreach program – headed by professor Kathe Lowney, secretary of educational forums – the group decided to sponsor an essay writing contest.
“We wanted to get the younger generation thinking about democracy,” Lowney said.
They opened the contest to the area’s high schools and homeschool programs. Board member Pat Sherrill said, “We even got an entry from Calgary, Canada.”
The students were instructed to explore the question, “Why is freedom of speech an essential freedom for society?” Ten students entered the contest for substantial cash prizes of $300 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third. A team of community members – including Judge Roy Wijewickrama, educator Susan Landis and Cherokee Scout Publisher David Brown – blindly judged the essays.
This year’s third-place honors went to Maverick Imlay, who said he entered “for the fun of it.”
Second place went to Elsa Holland, a junior at Tri-County Early College High School. Unlike Imlay, Holland has always been aware of her writing skills.
“I’ve always enjoyed writing,” she said, “I write essays and poetry.”
Her English teacher, Marianne Leek, reviewed her winning essay. Holland’s mother saw the contest announcement in the Scout.
“She told me I’d be perfect for it,” Holland said. “The problem is, I’m not political.”
She was thrilled with her second-place standing.
“People would be surprised by my success,” Holland said with a laugh. “They wouldn’t expect me to be a high achiever.”
Sophomore Lauren Gottlieb from Hayesville High School won first place, who is no stranger to writing assignments. She volunteers her talents to write speeches on mental health, hoping to raise awareness on its societal impact. She’s no stranger to essay contests, either; Gottlieb was in middle school when she first started entering.