The 27th annual Committee for Integrity Enhancement Essay Awards Program was held April 15, 2019 at the Northside Middle School Auditorium. Students from all schools in Muncie and Delaware County, including private and home schools, were invited to write on the topic, “How do I demonstrate integrity in the way I give of my time, talent or money?”
This year 1,125 essays were submitted from 25 schools. Preliminary readers select two winners from each school. From these school winners, the committee selected the top three county winners in each division: elementary (grades 4-5), middle school (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-12). School winners each receive $20 for their efforts. Third-place county winners in each division receive $100, second place $150, and first place $250. Read the First Place winning essays here.
Elementary School Division winners: First place: Grier Backus, Albany Elementary (Teacher: Mrs. Hottinger; Principal: Joe Schmaltz); second: Jocelyn Moody, Albany Elementary (Teacher, Mrs. Hottinger; Principal: Joe Schmaltz); third: Anna Bowman, Yorktown Elementary (Teacher: Erin Jackson; Principal, Wesley Thornburg).
Middle School Division winners: First place: Isabel Quirk, Pope John Paul II (Teacher: Mrs. Craig; Principal: Elisha Schlabach); second: Rebekah Thorpe, Delta Middle School (Teacher, Angela Decker; Principal, Doug Marshall); third: Chloe Ashcraft, Delta Middle School (Teacher, Angela Decker; Principal, Doug Marshall).
High School Division winners: First place: Katie Nettrouer, Cowan Jr/Sr High School (Teacher: Dr. Amy Conrad; Principal: Patrick Bloom); second: Alana Stonewall, Heritage Hall Christian School (Teacher, Mr. Wallace; Principal, David Stein II); third: Chantel Sowers, Wes-Del High School (Teacher, Ms. Meier-Fisher; Principal, Adam Perdue).
In addition to essay winners, each year the committee presents Personal Integrity Awards. Three individuals received this honor:
The speaker for the 2018 Committee for Integrity Enhancement Awards Ceremony was Kelsey Timmernan, New York Times bestselling author of WHERE AM I WEARING? A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes and WHERE AM I EATING? An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy, and his newest book is WHERE AM I GIVING? A Global Adventure Exploring How to Use Your Gifts and Talents to Make a Difference. He began his keynote speech by sharing the story of meeting Amilcar, the guy who made his shirt in Honduras. He reflected on how that experience helped him recognize the privilege and opportunities of his own life and how they come with the responsibility to make a positive difference for people and planet.
Kelsey emphasized that “Once we recognize the gifts others have given us, we can better understand how our gifts could help others.”
He shared his Three Giving Rules:
- Gratitude first, then giving.
- Start small. Start where you live.
- The best giving doesn’t cost you leaving you with less; it grows you, leaving you with more.
Thank you, Kelsey.
The Committee for Integrity Enhancement also has a Facebook Page. Go on and “Like” us!
Congratulations to all!
The Committee for Integrity Enhancement consists of local citizens working together to promote and recognize “integrity” in the lives of area residents of all ages in the Muncie/Delaware County area. The committee is supported through private community donations. For more information, or to nominate someone for the personal integrity award: Committee for Integrity Enhancement, P.O. Box 764, Muncie, Ind. 47308.
Photographs by Chelsy Ray