Contributed photos

The Kennebec County Medical Society has announced the winners of its 19th annual essay contest. The topic is “Important Health Issues for Teenagers in the World Today.” The contest is open to all junior and senior high school students in Kennebec County — 154 essays were received this year by students at Cony High School, Erskine Academy, Gardiner High School and Maranacook Community High School. Winners are: Sydney Sansouci, who placed first and received $1,000; Courtney Elliot, second, received $500; and honorable mention and $100 went to Christina Claudel, Falecia Dupont, Mitchell Caron, Liam Stokes, Veronica Swain, Amelia Trudo, Dale Varnum, Alyx Wharton and Kathryn Wright. One-third of the essays referenced stress and anxiety, another 20 percent were about social pressures and depression illustrating the difficulties of school, extracurricular and work pressures for today’s high school students.

Additional Images

From left are Liam Stokes, Amelia Trudo, Dale Varnum, Sydney Sansouci, Christina Claudel and Mitchell Caron. Front is teacher Tom Wells.

From left are Kathryn Wright, Michael Szela, MD, president of Kennebec County Medical Society, and Alyx Wharton.