June 5, 2009

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) today announced that students from Commerce, Dearborn, Kinde, Northville, Novi, Okemos, Port Huron, West Bloomfield and White Cloud are the winners of "Essays About Lincoln," a statewide writing contest celebrating Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. Jointly administered by the Michigan Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Committee (housed in HAL) and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the contest invited students to write an essay describing how Abraham Lincoln's life and leadership have inspired them.

More than 450 students, representing 60-plus cities, villages and townships throughout the state, participated in the contest. The first-, second- and third-place winning entries in each grade-level category are available to read online at www.suvcw.org/mollus/mi/mollus.html.

"We are pleased with the level of participation and the obvious inspiration that Lincoln's exceptional life has influenced. His was a life worth remembering, celebrating and - I believe - emulating," said Dr. William Anderson, chair of the Michigan Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Committee and retired director of HAL. "To see our youngest citizens taking up the challenge of defining Lincoln's leadership in the 21st century is gratifying; I would like to think it would please Lincoln himself."

"President Lincoln's life was filled with immense challenges and yet he never gave up trying to better himself. His legacy stands as a symbol of what can be achieved through commitment, compassion and honesty," said Bruce B. Butgereit, commander, Commandery of the State of Michigan, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. "Many students in our schools today face similar obstacles in their lives. We hope that by giving students this opportunity to study and write about Lincoln, they gained a better understanding of who they are and how Lincoln's example can serve as an inspiration to them."

Butgereit noted that the essay contest was designed to support Michigan English Language Arts and Social Studies curriculum standards, including those for language, literature, voice, depth of understanding, ideas in action, inquiry and research, critical standards, and historical perspective.

All winners will receive a certificate of achievement that includes Governor Jennifer Granholm's signature, a "portrait" of Abraham Lincoln in the form of a new $5 bill, a copy of commemorative publication released by the national Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, and a figurine or framed print of Abraham Lincoln. Winning essays also may be published or displayed in various locations, publications and Web sites.

The "Essays About Lincoln" winners are:

Level 1 - fifth and sixth grades

First place - Elizabeth Anne Wilks of Kinde, sixth grade
Second place - Frances Master of Northville, fifth grade
Third place - Dana McLeod of Port Huron, fifth grade

Level 2 - seventh and eighth grades

First place - David Feldpausch of White Cloud, seventh grade
Second place - Raj K. Raina of Novi, seventh grade
Third place - Skylar Coe of Commerce, eighth grade

Level 3 - ninth through 12th grades

First place - Wendy Liu of Okemos, 10th grade
Second place - Trina Hossain of West Bloomfield, 10th grade
Third place - Ben Walling of Dearborn, 12th grade

The mission of the Michigan Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Committee is to provide leadership and direction for Michigan's celebration of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. It will do so by helping people appreciate how Lincoln's life relates to the lives of countless Michiganians today, serving as a clearinghouse for information about celebration activities, promoting partnerships that provide programming, and demonstrating how Michigan is forever linked to the life of Abraham Lincoln. Learn more at www.milincoln.org.

The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) was founded on April 15, 1865, the day Abraham Lincoln died. Its mission is to perpetuate the memory of Abraham Lincoln and his ideals. The Michigan Commandery of MOLLUS is active throughout the state of Michigan, engaging in patriotic and educational programs and in the preservation and restoration of Civil War monuments and memorials. Learn more at www.suvcw.org/mollus/mi/mollus.html.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).