U.S. Citizens’ Rights and Freedoms

More than 1100 Muskingum County eighth graders were given a challenge for Sertoma Freedom Week.

The students all had to write a 300-word essay on their freedoms and responsibilities as a U.S. citizen. There were 29 winners chosen from schools across the county.

"It’s a good program. It makes kids aware of a little bit about government, and how important it was and is," says Chairperson Jerry Lavy.

Each student was given a copy of the Bill of Rights as a starting point for their essay.

"There’s some that get into originality and talk about what the Bill of Rights means to them and their responsibilities as a U.S. citizen," he says.

The 29 students were each awarded $50 and the overall winner, Maggie Prest of Philo, was given an additional $100. State Representative Troy Balderson attended Tuesday’s event along with Sertoma members, the students’ families and teachers.