Tea student wins statewide essay contest

Tea Legacy 4th grader, Makena Jutting, recently won first place in a statewide 4th Grade Student Essay Contest, “This Place Matters”.

The contest was sponsored by the South Dakota State Historical Society. The purpose was to enable students to achieve a better appreciation of their historic resources, the stories they tell, and why they should be maintained. Students were asked to write a 100-400 word essay using this year’s theme of “This Place Matters”.

The essay could be about any South Dakota location that is at least 50 years old, why it is a favorite place for them, and why it should be saved. Entries were judged on quality of writing, content and theme, and originality of thought. There were 50 entries from across the state.

Kristi Desaulniers, Makena’s 4th grade teacher at Legacy Elementary in Tea, said that the contest tied in well with their Quarter 4 Writing Standard of Research Writing, as well as SD History that the class was studying.

Makena was awarded a $100 check for winning the contest; a representative from the South Dakota State Historical Society came to Tea to present the check to her last week.