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Ford is County Grandparent Essay Winner
   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.