Camano girl wins essay contest

McKenzie Baker won first place in the “Living Evergreen” essay contest at the Evergreen State Fair Thursday. A Stanwood High School student, McKenzie Baker, of Camano Island, won first place in the “Living Evergreen” essay contest sponsored by Snohomish County and Allied Waste. Baker was one of two first-place winners in two age categories who received $200 U.S. treasury bonds. She will have an opportunity to read her essay about the growing need to be environmentally friendly to Snohomish County’s elected leadership.

The essays were judged by Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, Neal Pattison, executive editor of The Daily Herald; Jennifer Langston, editor of Sightline Daily of the Sightline Institute, a nonprofit sustainability organization; and Joe Casalini, development director for Allied Waste Northwest.

The judges were impressed by the caliber of entries considering that a summer essay contest meant no prodding by teachers to enter.

“These students wrote straight from the heart,” Casalini said.

“Sustainability is something they truly think about and incorporate into their lives every day. To see youth with such thoughtfulness about our environment validates everything we do to promote green living.”