Three proud high school students attending Athens Christian School were recently selected winners by a team of State Rotary Volunteer Judges for the 2022 Georgia Rotary Laws of Life Essay Contest, the largest essay contest of its type in North America and the signature program of Rotary Clubs in Georgia.

The Classic City Rotary Club of Athens, Blair Dorminey, President, contributed funds as a Platinum Sponsor of the contest, along with sponsorships by 61 other Georgia Rotary Clubs and generous friends who embrace the program. The local club is pleased that Athens Christian School participated with an incredible 186 high school students writing an essay. The Classic City Rotary Club hosted an Awards Luncheon to honor the winners on Monday, April 11, at Trumps Catering. The students read their winning essays before the club members, parents, English teachers, and other guests, receiving rousing applause and a standing ovation.

First Place winner, Bradley Zimmerman, received her award for both School Winner and 9th Grade Winner; Nate Coley was awarded 10th Grade Winner; and Lydia Fortson was awarded 12th Grade Winner. Each student won cash awards, a medallion from Laws of Life, and a framed award presented by the Classic City of Athens Rotary Club Essay Contest Chair, Henry O’Pry. Amelia Kemmerer, English teacher and School Chair, received a special “Teacher of Distinction” award resulting from the 86 percent student participation as recognized by the Georgia Rotary Laws of Life Essay Contest. Ms. Kemmerer also received a cash award.

Pictured from Athens Christian School, left to right: Lydia Fortson, 12th Grade Winner; Erika White, English teacher; Steve Cummings, Head of School; Amelia Kemmerer, English teacher, Chair of the school’s Essay Contest; Nate Coley, 10th Grade Winner; and Bradley Zimmerman, School Winner and 9th Grade Winner. All student winners received a medallion from Laws of Life and a framed award from the Classic City of Athens Rotary Club.

Honorable Mention Winners from 9th Grade were Ethan Woodlief, Annie Rollins, and Reagan Gurley; from the 10th Grade, Dolan O’Neal and McKenna Wells; from the 11th Grade, Zachary Colquitt and Morgan Wood; from the 12th Grade, Caleb Williams and Vince Araujo.

The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest is an outreach program of the Georgia Rotary Districts Character Education Program, Inc. 501(c)(3). The contest is free for all public and private high schools and fulfills the State of Georgia’s mandated character education requirements under GA Law O.C.G.A. 20-2-145-Comprehensive Character Education Program.

The original Laws of Life contest was started by the late Sir John Templeton, a pioneer in financial investments and a distinguished philanthropist. Templeton believed there are a set of rules, ideals, and principles that should guide one in living a full and joyous existence. He created the program
to encourage young people to reflect on these principles. Georgia’s contest is modeled after Templeton’s original contest.

According to the Georgia Laws of Life website: https://georgialawsoflife.org - Students participating in the Essay Contest share their writing skills by selecting a Law of Life, such as “Honesty is the best policy” or “To give is better than to receive.” They explain how the character value contained in the maxim applies to their life. In doing so, the students reflect deeply and write from the heart about what they think matters most. The contest rewards those students who take a stand for their values such as love, loyalty, generosity, courage, compassion, and perseverance. The Laws of Life Essay Contest celebrates the students’ essays, their lives, and their often profound reflections, and proudly presents significant cash awards to the students and English teachers each year.

Local Contest Chair Henry O’Pry has assisted in the program for over 10 years. He stated, “It’s all about the students participating with the help and encouragement of their English teachers, parents, and friends to expand their writing skills. The essays not only help the students realize things about themselves they might have never known, but also help the teachers know and better understand their students.”

Statewide cash awards totaling $18,100 will be presented to winning students and English teachers this year. An annual event, the Georgia Rotary Laws of Life Essay Contest has now totaled over 730,000 Georgia students entering the Essay Contest during the past 22 years.

Head of School Steve Cummings, Athens Christian School, stated, “Let’s do this again next year.”