The Charlevoix Kiwanis Club sponsored its 13th annual Vandenberg Essay Contest
CHARLEVOIX — The Charlevoix Kiwanis Club recently sponsored its 13th Annual Vandenberg Essay Contest.
This contest was inspired by a similar contest that the Boyne City Kiwanis Club has been running for many years.
"Our club was motivated by the kindness and generosity of a gentleman who was a former retired math teacher from Grand Rapids and a Charlevoix Public Schools substitute teacher," according to a press release from the Charlevoix Kiwanis Club.
"Merle Vandenberg was also a math tutor for all of our foster kids and he was a consummate supporter for students who were recovering from substance abuse," the release states. "This mild mannered gentleman who was rarely viewed without his sport coat, tie and warm smile was also a member of the Charlevoix Kiwanis Club. In his memory we created the Vandenberg Essay Contest. His generosity continues as we have our students write an essay about a nonprofit that touched their heart and one in which they would gladly give their winning essay money to."
The Charlevoix Kiwanis Club recently held a Zoom Awards Assembly for last year’s fifth grade winners and another Zoom assembly for this year’s fifth grade winners. Students who won will have $100 sent to their nonprofit. In addition, there were two students awarded grand prize and their nonprofits will be the recipients of $200.
Sixteen students were selected from the Kiwanis essay committee to receive checks that will be donated to the nonprofit of their choice. There were eight winning essays in Sarah Muladore’s fifth grade class at Charlevoix Elementary school and eight winners from Jane Garver’s class of fifth graders from last year.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix Kiwanis Club sponsors 13th annual Vandenberg Essay Contest
