Each year Montgomery County students in grades 3-12 are invited to participate in the Character Counts! Foundation for Life Essay contest, sponsored by the Character Counts! Board of Montgomery County. All essays are read by a panel of judges. Essays are scored based upon how students relate their chosen maxim to living a life focused on the six pillars of character.
Winners of the essay contest receive monetary awards that are donated by the Crawfordsville Community School Corporation, the North Montgomery Community School Corporation, the South Montgomery Community School Corporation and the Hoosier Heartland State Bank.
Winners this year are:
High School — Elizabeth Bowling, Crawfordsville, first place and overall winner; Vidushi Kiran, Crawfordsville, second place; and Caidence Hutson, North Montgomery, third place.
Middle School — Kevin Keller, Southmont, first place and overall winner; Jolie Hoenshell, Southmont, second place; and Madelyn Roberts, Southmont, and Lucy Hess, North Montgomery, third place tie.
Elementary School — Ada Bonwell, Sugar Creek Elementary, first place and overall winner; Will Dark, Sommer Elementary, second place; and Ava Eubanks, New Market Elementary and Abigail Cain, Sugar Creek Elementary, third place tie.