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It is the policy of the Department of Education to provide services to all persons, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, ancestry, or national origin, in accordance with federal and state laws.

Seven SD students win $$ for charities in statewide essay contest

Seven South Dakota students won generous donations to their favorite charities by successfully participating in the nationwide Laws of Life essay contest.  This is the first year South Dakota students entered the competition.

The contest requires the student to write an essay about values, people, and/or events that have been meaningful in his/her life and will continue to have positive influence. State-level winners were selected from among students who won first place in their local community’s contest.

South Dakota’s winners and their charity choices are:

1^st place – Diana L. Gyllings – Brookings School District - $1000 to Heifer International
2^nd place – Alicia Jungers – Watertown School District - $500 to Make-a-Wish Foundation
3^rd place – Shane Stumvoll – Spearfish School District - $300 to United Way
4^th place (tie) – Tiffany Davis – Marion School District - $100 to The Banquet in Sioux Falls
4^th place (tie) – Rachel N. Knutson – Pierre Public School - $100 to the Multiple Sclerosis Society
6^th place – Melanie Jane Smith – Meade School District - $100 to the Black Hills Humane Society
7^th place – Tony Ullom – Flandreau School District - $100 to the Park Board City Pool

The local contests were held in school districts that receive funds through the Character Education Partnership federal grant. The Laws of Life essay contest was first created by John Templeton in 1987 as a gift for the young people in his hometown of Winchester, Tennessee. His vision was to encourage young people to reflect and write about their own “Laws of Life” and then to publicly recognize them for thinking about values and principles that will guide them wherever they go or in whatever they do in life. The John Templeton Foundation has generously given materials and support to the South Dakota effort.  The Foundation awarded the state a one-time grant to use for the cash awards that were given to charities chosen by the winners.