Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-06-22
PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
Civic Imp. League Awards Two Prizes
DIR. BfuSke Makes Presentation
DONALD REID AND ARLO ECKERT
wOmen's Civic Improvement League Deserves
Credit for Conducting Contest

For some time the Women's Civic
Improvement League has been active
in conducting sewing, darning and
other contests for the school girls OF
the city, but up to this spring nothing
has been done TO promote activity
among the boys of the schools out
side of conducting of the reading
room. A contest which would be OF
interest to all boys in the grades of
the public schools and which would
promote their love for nature study
and birds in particular was arranged
for. Its elimination came Friday af-
ternoon when at the conclusion Of the
graduating exercises of the public
schools, DR.. Bruske, president of
Nina college, presented Arlo Eckert
of the seventh grade and Donald
Reid of the sixth with books upon
bird study.
The contest was begun some two
months ago. Essays upon the sub
ject, Birds | have Seem" to be of
about five hundred words, were called
for. There were two classes of con-
testants, those from the fifth and
grades forming one class and those
from the seventh and eighth grades
forming the other. The object of the
contest was mainly to promote in
dividual research and bird study rather
than to promote excellence in COM
points were counted on composition,
while twenty-five were given for ex-
cellence Of general information
shown and fifty for original observa-
tion and experience. The idea of the
contest was not that of one in Eng
lish work but rather in nature study.
1t was successful from start to finish,
the interest that the pupils took in it
being manifested by the fact that
thirty-nine essays were submitted.
From this number it was exceedingly
difficult to pick the winners.
The judges were Professor Hans
ford MacCurdy of the college, Mrs.
Chas. Rhodes of the Civic Improve
ment League and Miss Gretta Bagley.
The judges wish to commend the pu-
pills for the excellent work they have
done and to give honorable mention
to the following competitors: In the
fifth grade, Harold Emmons and
Harold Nevills; in the sixth grade,
Theodore Kress, Lynn Barnes, Harold
Barnes, Edgar Blanck, Kenneth Mon
tigel, Albert Atkinson and Joseph
Wilson; in the seventh grade, Chas.
Creaser; and in the eighth grade,
Clarence Banghart and Dewey Muir
ply. DR.. Bruske presented the prizes,
two books on bird study. The first,
Bird Life, by Frank Nj. Chapman,
was given to Arlo Eckcrt. This book
cc,i''ned seventyive full page eel
ortd drawings of birds ny Ernest
Seton. Thompson The second. Am
erican Birds, photographed ard studied
by William Lowell Finley. Both
prizes were wisely chosen and will
stimulate the interest of the recipients
il bird lore
TIE contest was under tho direct
supervision of a committee consist
ing of Mrs A. F. Bruske and Miss
Caroline Delavan. 10 them in parti.
cular and the Civic Improvement
League in general is due much credit
for this work. Very few towns can
boast of league of this nature that
is doing as much for the welfare of
the city as this organization. That
the authorities in charge should have
thought Of contest Of this kind is
fortunate indeed as it fills a place
nothing else could do. 1t is to be
trusted that this contest will be
permanent feature each year as it
not only promotes interest in COM
pettive essay writing among the
boys of the city but it furthers their
work along lines Of bird study.
The committee in charge have asked
the Record to thank the judges for
their efficient and conscientious work
merits of the essays submitted, and
also the teachers for their hearty
cooperation.
The essay which Won first place in
the lower class is given in this weeks
Record. The other will appear next
week.