Friday, January 17, 2014

Future Minnesota Mayors Have Big Plans For Their Cities...

Promoting volunteerism, organizing a community meet-and-greet with police and firefighters, and simply getting people to talk with each other are just a few of the hundreds of ideas submitted by elementary school students who penned creative essays for the first-ever "Mayor for a Day" contest, sponsored  by the League of Minnesota Cities.

Students who picked-up essay entry forms at the League's State Fair booth or printed them from the League's web site were challenged with the task of answering the question, "If you were mayor for a day, what would you do to make (city) services even better that they already are for all the people in your city?"

From more than 300 students representing all areas of the state, two top writers were chosen in each of two age categories, 7-9 years old and 10-12 years old. Those students are (drumroll, please...):

7-9 years
  • Ellaina Esther Bergstrom, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Elementary School, Buffalo Lake
  • Haley Whipps, Jordan Elementary School, Jordan
10-12 years
  • Madeline Kovacich, Valley Crossing Community School, Woodbury
  • Victoria Roy, Hastings Middle School, Hastings

Five honorable mentions were also chosen for each age category. In the 7-9 year old category they are Karly Breegemann, Jordan; Quinn Hendel, Mendota Heights; Lila Rotherberger, East Grand Forks; Charlie Owen Sackett, Rochester; and Christopher Viktora-Croke, Hastings. Honorable mentions for the 10-12 year old category are Phillip Benson, Buffalo Lake; Dylan Diepold, Stewart; Krista Esch, Medford; Kayla Iwanski, Hibbing; and Maddie Mick, Farmington.

The four top winners each received a recognition certificate and a $100 check from the League. And, at least one present-day mayor planned a special recognition for the future mayoral candidate in his city (others likely to follow).

The "Mayor for a Day" contest was launched as part of the League's centennial anniversary celebration in 2013, but will be held again this year due to popular demand. Visit the League's "Cities Matter" booth at the 2014 State Fair this summer for more info.