BOONE, Iowa—– Thirty years ago, when Lieutenant James Beardsley was in fourth grade, his teacher assigned a short essay for the class to write. The essay was titled “What is Christmas Spirit to you?” Little did Lt. Beardsley know that his class was among 150 other fourth grade students writing the same essay for a Salvation Army contest in Grand Haven, Michigan. Several weeks later he received the call that he was one of two winners. This was an event that impacted his life.

Fast forward thirty years and now, in 2020, The Salvation Army of Boone is proud to announce that the Holiday Essay Contest is coming to Boone. The Holiday Essay Contest will be for all fourth-grade students in Boone County. Students will work on their essay in their classrooms and will answer the question “Which holiday book/story is my favorite and why?” The new Holiday Essay Committee will be selecting sixteen award winners this year.

The Salvation Army is not doing this alone though. The Holiday Essay Committee is chaired and sponsored by the Boone Community School District, Boone County Chamber of Commerce, Ericson Public Library, Boone Noon Kiwanis, Boone Rotary Club, and Boone Hy-Vee. The Holiday Essay Committee has been hard at work putting together the contest since July.

“We are thrilled to have Ericson Library involved in helping to promote this special event for students in Boone and thank Lt. James and the Salvation Army for promoting literacy and adding some magic to the holidays this season!” – Ronda Kelley, Teen Librarian

At this time The Salvation Army will not be releasing the award levels until the awards are given out to the students on Monday, December 21st. The Committee has decided that they would like to make the award levels a surprise to the students. More information on the contest will be shared with the students & parents through their teachers. Information for home schooled fourth graders will be shared in Mid-November

(contributed press release, Salvation Army Boone Corp)