Essay winners announced FREEHOLD - The Sunrise Optimist Club of Freehold has announced the winners of this year's essay contest. First-place honors went to Samantha Sisskind, Freehold Township High School; second place honors went to Julia Pugachevsky, Colts Neck High School; and third-place honors went to Donna Olsen, St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel. Each girl received a certificate of recognition and presented her essay at a recent Sunrise Optimist meeting. The theme for this year's contest was "Today's Choices Shape My Future." The winning essays focused on dealing positively with life's adversity; how one's choices today affect your future tomorrow; and the choice to remain drug-free and alcohol free. According to a press release, the essay contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people an opportunity to write about their opinions regarding the world in which they live. The winning essays were sent on to the Atlantic Central district level (which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey and northern Delaware), where Samantha Sisskind's essay placed second. "All of our members were extremely impressed with the quality of the essays that were presented at our recent breakfast meeting" said Len Nachbar, president elect of the Freehold Sunrise Optimist Club. "Donna Olsen was asked for permission to have her essay published in the Freehold Alcohol and Drug Alliance newsletter, because Nat Davison, the Freehold Alcohol and Drug Alliance chair and Sunrise Optimist member, felt her essay on drug and alcohol avoidance was perfect for the teen audience they are trying to speak to," Nachbar said. The Sunrise Optimist Club of Freehold has been participating in the Optimist essay contest for 21 years and has been active in the community since 1986. In addition to the essay contest, the club has its own scholarship program for seniors at a public or private high school within the towns served by the Freehold Regional High School District who demonstrate academic excellence and community involvement. Two scholarships are given out: the Sunrise Optimist Club of Freehold Ray Favocci Memorial Scholarship for $3,000 and the Joseph Salkin Scholarship for $2,000. Some of the other programs and service projects that the club supports include Camp Quality New Jersey, a free sleepaway camping experience and year-round support program for children with cancer ages 6-16; the Hot Shot Basketball Tournament (grades 4-9); and establishing and advising Junior Optimist Clubs in the area to teach children the importance of civic service. Funds to support Camp Quality will be raised at the annual golf outing at the Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township, on Aug. 4. For more information regarding the Freehold Sunrise Optimist Club, visit www.sunrise-optimist.com/index.html. The Sunrise Optimist Club meets at the Golden Bell diner, Route 9 south, Freehold Township, from 7-8 a.m. each Friday morning. The club's motto is "Friend of youth," and the members welcome anyone who is interested in helping children to attend a meeting. Optimist International is one of the world's largest service club organizations with adult and youth members in 3,800 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and throughout the world. Carrying the motto "Bringing Out the Best in Kids," Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year, according to the press release.