SOUTH PORTLAND – The Maine Elks Association recently honored several youths from across the state as part of the 78th annual state convention held at the Sheraton Hotel.

The youths were recognized as state winners of contests sponsored by the association. The awards were presented at a special banquet, attended by more than 200 members, guests and families.

The first awards presented were for the Elks Americanism essay contest, open to fifth- through eighth-graders who wrote a 200-word essay on “Why I am Proud to be an American.”

State winners were Madeline Coffey (Bangor Elks Lodge), Nathan Dubois (Sanford Elks Lodge), Victoria Eon (Biddeford-Saco Elks Lodge) and Krysta Moulton (Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge).

Next were the Elks drug awareness contest awards. The winners of the coloring contest were Morgan Daoust (Rumford Elks Lodge) and Zack Boucher (Millinocket Elks Lodge). The poster contest winners were Lily Muacatell (Old Town Elks Lodge) and Damean Newbury (Millinocket Elks Lodge), and the winners of the essay contest were: Macy Morrison (York Elks Lodge) and Patrick Saucier (Old Town Elks Lodge).

For more information on the Elks, visit www.elks.org, or visit a local lodge