Hamilton Students Win Optimist Essay Contest

Photo submitted by Michael Bloedorn. Pictured from left to right are Le Anne Pomeroy, SLLB Optimist Club President; Maliha Aroush-1st place; Kensington Martin-2nd place; Michael Bloedorn, Essay Contest Chairperson; and Vyas Karra, 3rd place.

The Sussex-Lisbon-Lannon-Butler Optimist Club is proud to announce the winner of this year's essay contest.  Twenty-five students from the Hamilton School district submitted entries.  The 700-800 word essays addressed the topic " How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me." 

The first place award winner is Maliha Aroush, second place is Kensington Martin, and third place goes to Vyas Karra.  Scholarship checks and medallions were presented to these three students on March 9, 2026.  1st place was a gold medallion and scholarship check for $150, 2nd place was a silver medallion and check for $100, and third place a bronze medallion and check for $50.  

Aroush’s winning essay advances to the Zone competition.

Congratulations to all three award winners and competitors this year!