SIDNEY — Sidney Elks Lodge No. 786 Secretary Christi Thomas has announced that the Sidney Lodge had a first place winner in the Ohio Elks Southwest District Americanism Essay Contest for fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.

This year’s topic was “What I Can Do to Promote Americanism and Love of Country.”

Kailey A. Higgins, daughter of Leslie and Kevin Higgins, of Sidney, was the Division I, first-place winner of a $100 gift card. She is a fifth-grader at Holy Angels School.

The Sidney Lodge received 56 entries this year, six of which went to the Southwest District competition. Local schools participating included Holy Angels, Christian Academy, Sidney Middle School, Russia Local, Fort Loramie Elementary and Anna Local.