The competition was tough during this year's Council of North County Neighborhoods Essay Contest. A record-setting 354 Palm Harbor students submitted essays for the contest. 

Judges spent four days reading the essays. "It was a lot of fun," said CNCN President Don Ewing, who also handed out awards during the CNCN meeting Monday, Oct. 15.

Nineteen Palm Harbor students received awards ranging from $25 gift certificates to $300 scholarships. Award winners read their essays in front of the crowd. All students who submitted an essay received a $5 game card for Gatti's Pizza.

Pinellas County School Board Chairperson Robin Wikle helped hand out awards to students and had lots of compliments for their writing and presentation skills.

"They did a great job. They put a lot of thought into the essays, especially when they read them," she said.

The following students won awards-

• Honorable Mention: Tess Polites, 2nd grade, Brooker Creek
• 1st Place, 3rd Grade Essays: Brandon Data, Brooker Creek Elementary
• 2nd Place, 3rd Grade Essays: Sonia Mithani, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 3rd Place, 3rd Grade Essays: Irina Kravtsova, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 1st Place, 4th Grade Essays: Taki Tsetsekas, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 2nd Place, 4th Grade Essays: Luke Morrow, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 3rd Place, 4th Grade Essays: Dana Liberto, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 1st Place, 5th Grade Essays: Emily Jones, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 2nd Place, 5th Grade Essays: Noelle Behar, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 3rd Place, 5th Grade Essays: Rachel Patella, Cypress Woods Elementary
• 1st Place, 6-8th Grade Essays: Shane Robinson, Carwise Middle School
• 2nd Place, 6-8th Grade Essays: Natalie Diola, Carwise Middle School
• 3rd Place, 6-8th Grade Essays: Lily Kilbert
• 1st Place, 9-10th Grade Essays: Christina Abraham, East Lake High School
• 2nd Place, 9-10th Grade Essays: Lyndee Mansfield, East Lake High School
• 3rd Place, 9-10th Grade Essays: Steven Plaskett, East Lake High School
• 1st Place, 11-12th Grade Essays: Jennifer Mourousas, East Lake High School
• 2nd Place, 11-12th Grade Essays: Malissa Alli, East Lake High School
• 3rd Place, 11-12th Grade Essays: Danielle Zeron, East Lake High School

Helpful Link-

• Council of North County Neighborhoods