Allen County Intermediate Center fifth grade
student, Emily Ford, has been selected as the Allen County winner in the
2017-18 Grandparent of the Year essay contest sponsored by the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Kentucky Retired Teachers
Association (KRTA).
Ford is among thousands of Kentucky fifth-graders who participated in
the 17th annual essay competition. The participants submit essays answering the
question, “Why my grandparent should be the AARP Grandparent of the Year.”
Fifth-grade teachers at ACIC reviewed the submitted essays and selected Ford as
the Allen County winner.
Ford receives a framed certificate recognizing the accomplishment at the
county level. In addition, her essay will be submitted for district
competition. Ford and other district winners also become eligible to
participate in the state final. The contest’s capstone event will be the
announcement of the state Grandparent of the Year in April. The selected grandparent along with the
nominating grandchild will be honored at the KRTA Convention in Louisville on April
24. The state essay winner also receives a $100 cash award.
According to a press release from the AARP/KRTA, the essay contest is a
unique way to recognize the significance contributions that older Kentuckians
make toward shaping the lives and values of youth across the Commonwealth.
Across the nation, an increasing number of adults 50 and older, are the primary
caregivers to to minor children. According to the 2010 census, nearly 87,000
children in Kentucky live with grandparents who are the householders. Almost
48,000 of these children live in homes where the grandparent householder is
also responsible for them
The AARP Grandparent of the Year essay contest is organized by the local
Retired Teacher Association which helps secure local school participation and
promotes the activity.