Hot Springs Elks Lodge 380 recently presented an award and monetary prize to Maria Mariuta, a student at St. John's Catholic School, as the third-place winner in the seventh-grade division in the Elks National Competition, a Lodge news release said.
Mariuta competed against students from 2,000 Elks Lodges across the United States. The essay theme for 2023 was "What is Your American Dream?"
Hot Springs area students are welcome to submit essays this fall, with the theme "What the Bill of Rights Means to Me."
Teachers at area schools have received entry information, including rules, entry forms, and the deadline of Dec. 15.
For more information about the Elks, visit http://www.Elks.org or call the Lodge at 501-525-1020.