SUMMIT COUNTY — To help instill values into Summit County's young people, the Summit Prevention Alliance is sponsoring an essay contest for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade. This year's essay topic is “I had the courage to try something new when I ....”

Submissions are being accepted through Feb. 17, and they can be turned in at the front office of all Summit County elementary schools.

“The writing contest encourages kids to practice their writing skills, and it also teaches life lessons,” said Holly Busnardo, the prevention coordinator at the Summit Prevention Alliance.

Busnardo noted that each year the Alliance tries to make the topic simple enough for kindergartners, but complex enough for 5th graders — “It's a challenge,” she said.

“Last year we added a Spanish writing category for first, second and third grade,” Busnardo added. The English-writing contest is for kindergarten through 5th graders.

Each year, the essay topic is different but it always focuses on developmental assets, or “essential building blocks that young people need to succeed.” This year focuses on self-esteem lessons.

According to Busnardo, there are great prizes for kids in each grade. Gold winners will receive a $50 savings bond from Alpine Bank, silver winners take home a $20 gift certificate to the Next Page bookstore in Frisco, and bronze winners get two movie tickets to Skyline Cinema.

“We've had really good participation in the past,” Busnardo said, noting that the Alliance has received up to 600 essays some years. Rotary Club volunteers will judge the essay contest

Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.