Winning students from left: Jamie Crocker, Crayton; Ben Herring, Hand; Joshua Bowman, Crayton; Donielle Golden, Sanders; and Madeline Moorer, Crayton. Five Richland School District One middle school students have been awarded U.S. savings bonds by the Richland Sertoma Club of Columbia for writing

essays on What Freedom

Means to Me.

The 2009 winners are Ben Herring, Hand Middle School, first prize; Joshua Bowman and Madeline Moorer, Crayton Middle School, tie for second prize; Jamie Crocker, Crayton, third prize; and Donielle Golden, Sanders Middle School, fourth prize.

The Richland Sertoma Club honored the students, their parents, and teachers February 19 at a luncheon at the club's regular luncheon meeting. In addition, the students, parents, and teachers were recognized at a district wide Sertoma dinner.

The Richland Sertoma Club, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is a civic and service club affiliated with Sertoma International. Club members hold several major fundraisers each year to raise money for speech and hearing impaired children. The annual Freedom and Democracy essay contest is open each year to middle school students in Richland School District One, and the students with the winning essays are awarded US Savings Bonds by the club.

Crayton teacher Beth Thrailkill and Sanders teacher Kathy Hope are instrumental in coordinating the essay contest with the Richland Sertoma Club.