Nancy Knapp tells her students when they write to “leave your readers wanting more and wondering what happens next.”

Izie Janecek and Lindsey Simpson took that advice to heart during a recent essay contest.

“Izie and Lindsey wrote two essays that were amazing and they do indeed leave the reader hungry for what happens next,” said Knapp.

The Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored the county-wide contest “Lives of Children During the American Revolution.”

Fourteen students from Orcas Elementary’s fifth and sixth grade classes of Nancy Knapp and Paula Towne entered essays. Winners were announced by Minnie Kynch of the Daughters of the American Revolution who was dressed in her best 1700-era garb.

Fifth grader Izie Janecek won first place and received a $50 prize. Her essay will be forwarded to the state level for future competition.

Lindsey Simpson, also in fifth grade, won second place and a $25 prize.

Third  place was awarded to Joseph Brewer, sixth grade, who received a $35 gift certificate to Mamie’s Boardwalk Café. Fourth place was given to Maya Heikkinen, sixth grade, and she received a $25 gift certificate to Mamie’s Boardwalk Café.

Knapp said her students [Izie and Lindsey] were passionate about the topic despite its difficulty. The students stayed in during recess, worked at home, and stayed  after school working on obtaining historic facts and learning the language of the 1700s.

“These girls were chomping at the bit to create a piece of writing that contained historical facts, that would leave readers hanging and to use the ‘juiciest’ words they could find,” said Knapp.