Three winners of this year’s Clarkston Area Optimist essay contest have been announced, with two coming from Clarkston High School and one from Everest Collegiate High School and Academy.
Taking first place was CHS senior Sophia Walker, while second was classmate Savannah Kacanowski and third place was Everest senior Molly Burgess.
Winners received $250, $150 and $100, respectively, and the first-place winner moves on to the district-level contest.
Thirteen students who participated in this year’s contest and each essay answered the question, “How Does An Optimist Mindset Change My Tomorrow?”

PHOTO: Pictured, from left, are CHS senior Savannah Kacanowski, CHS senior Sophia Walker, and Everest senior Molly Burgess during the March 16 meeting of the Clarkston Area Optimist Club. Photo provided