TORRINGTON – The Torrington Elks Lodge #1726 is inviting area students in grades 5-8 to participate in the 2025-2026 Americanism Essay Contest with a theme asking young writers to reflect on patriotic service.
The contest asks students to explore “What Does Service to Your Country Mean to You?” in essays not exceeding 300 words. Students must submit entries to their local Elks lodge by Dec. 15.
The competition offers monetary awards at the national level of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place in each grade division.
Rick Vonburg serves as chairman for the Torrington lodge. The contest encourages students ages 10-13 to thoughtfully consider American values and appreciate citizenship responsibilities.
Essays must be typed or legibly printed in ink and submitted with a cover sheet identifying the student by name, home address, grade, school and sponsoring lodge. Judging criteria include originality worth 30 points, development of theme worth 40 points and mechanics and neatness worth 30 points.
The contest progresses through local lodges to district and state levels before national winners are announced at the Grand Lodge Session in Chicago in July 2026.
The competition divides participants into four separate divisions by grade level. Local lodges select their top three essays from each division by Jan. 31, 2026. State chairmen then choose first, second and third place winners and forward first-place essays to contest administrator Mark E. Eaton by March 31, 2026.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks sponsors the annual program through its Grand Lodge Fraternal Committee to promote patriotism among young people nationwide.
Winning essays will be published in the Torrington Telegram.
Entry forms and contest guidelines have been distributed to all Goshen County Schools. For more information, contact Vonburg at rick.vonburg@gmail.com or 307-532-6570.
