Central student earns top honors in essay contest

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District has announced the winners of the Lakes Area Optimist Club Essay Contest, with Walled Lake Central High School student Sandeep Siva named the winner.

The theme of the written contest was “How my Positive Outlook Benefits My Community.”

“Sandeep Siva did a wonderful job of articulating this year’s theme,” said Scott Liebold, the chairman of the essay contest. “He expressed himself well through the essay and deserved the honor of first-place. With the success we experienced this year, we definitely will be moving forward next year and bringing this program to lakes area students again with a whole new topic.”

Siva was awarded a medallion and a certificate. His essay will next be entered at the next level to compete against the other Optimist Club winners in the club’s district.

The winner at the club district level receives a $2,500 scholarship and goes on to compete at the international level. The winner of the international competition receives an engraved plaque and recognition in The Optimist magazine.

Other Walled Lake Consolidated Schools winners include second-place winner Haley Wagner from Sarah Banks Middle School, and third-place winner Nicole Muhleisen, also from Sarah Banks. Lia Ann Stevens from Walled Lake Central and Akhila Manu from Sarah Banks received honorable mentions for their essays.