Knights of Columbus Council 6514 recently held essay contests for eighth-graders at St. Joseph School, Athens, and students at Monsignor Donovan High School.

The theme of the contest was “The Importance of Religious Freedom.” Cash awards and certificates were given to the first-, second- and third-place winners in each grade category. Everyone who submitted an essay received a participatory certificate.

The eighth-grade winners were Sofia Lopez (first place), Davis Meyer (second place), and Alexis Shirley (third place)

High school winners were: ninth grade, Carah Gibbons (first place); 10th grade, Kayla Ward, (first place), Celina Russo (second place), and Jessica Bortle (third place). There were no 11th-grade entries. Twelfth-grade winners were Julie Barton (first place), Richard Yarbrough (second place), and Rachel Terns (third place).

The winning entries were entered into the district competition, where they won all the competitions, and have now been entered into the state competition.