American pride and freedoms are the focus of the Mechanicville-Stillwater Elks annual essay contest, which is open to middle school students from throughout the area, and winning the contest has become an annual tradition.

This year, six of the 12 winners hail from Stillwater, including sixth graders Henry Nadler and Tayler Mondoux, seventh graders Mya Price, Joshua Donovan and Brooklynne Russo, and eighth grader Cecilia Ford. Five of these students are moving on to the district level of the competition and then hopefully to the state level. Congratulations to all!

In the photo, from left: Joshua Donovan, Henry Nadler, Tayler Stillwater is proud to participate, Mondoux, Mya Price, Cecilia Ford and Brooklynne Russo