POMEROY — Meigs High School sophomore Steven Mahr’s winning essay in the American Legion’s Americanism contest has won for him a week-long trip to Gettysburg, Pa., and Washington, D.C.

Mahr was the sophomore state winner in the annual contest which this year consisted of a 300-word essay expressing thoughts on the subject “Mr. President, as a student my concerns are ...”

Mahr, son of Ryan and Carol Mahr of Rutland, is believed to be the first Meigs County student to win a state award since the essay contests began in 1936.

Coming to Meigs County Friday morning to announce the winner was a delegation of American Legion state officers including Gerald A. White, who is director of Americanism and Youth Activities of the American Legion of Ohio.

In his essay Mahr, who is a student athlete and Boy Scout working on his Eagle Scout award, talked about the economy, education, national security, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and bI-partisanship.

“These five areas of concern can make or break your ability to govern,” he wrote. “Mr. President the task of ‘tackling’ all of these issues in four years might be impossible. As you know the economy is in a deficit and qualifies for being a ‘recession,’ and some are calling it the worst since the Great Depression. This issue would be my first priority.”

He then continued in his essay with a brief discussion on the importance of his other areas of concern.

White advised Mahr that he was one of 18 state winners selected from students in 500 high schools in Ohio which submitted 6,800 essays. He said the trip to Gettysburg and Washington will be educational for the students and a reward for hard work.

The all-expenses paid trip is set for March 8-13 traveling by charter bus leaving from Columbus. Legionnaires and auxiliary members will be the chaperones. The group will go first to Gettysburg where one feature will be a tour of the battle fields and then on to Washington, D.C., where highlights will include tours of the Washington Cathedral, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and possibly the White House, along with visits to veterans memorials and the Arlington National Cemetery where a wreath will be placed at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Other contest winners in the Eighth District, were Jennifer Robinson, Meigs, sophomore; Clayton Keller of Millersport and Traci Beddow of Sheridan, seniors; and Andrew DeWald and Rachel Edwards of Athens, juniors.