A pair of sixth graders from Greene County Intermediate School were among the top winners in the Iowa Elks Northwest District essay contest “Our Flag…What it Means to Me”.
Madison Truitt placed second in the girls competition and Chance McCollom placed third in the boys competition. Both won the Jefferson Elks Lodge #2306 local contest in their respective divisions. There were 92 entries locally. They are pictured with Elks exalted ruler Hollie Roberts (left) and sixth grade teacher Cassie Bardole (left).
Their essays were then in competition with other Elks Lodges in the Iowa Northwest District. Both received certificates and monetary awards at the local and district level. Heather Manken, Cassie Bardole, and Doug Brown are their instructors at the Grand Junction building.
Madison is the daughter of Jason Truitt of Jefferson. Chance is the son of Chad and Tina McCollom of Jefferson. Both Madison and Chance have been invited to read their essays during the Elks Flag Day Ceremony, Friday, June 12, as part of the opening of the Bell Tower Festival.
Jefferson Elks Lodge #2306 sponsors many other youth centered activities, including drug awareness programs with drug literature, coloring books, comic books, and red ribbons. The Elks distribute dictionaries to all third graders in Greene County, sponsor “Hoop Shoot,” provide a home for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in their lodge, award scholarships, sponsor a safety summer camp, and host the Greene County junior-senior prom.
