2010 Healthy Kansas Essay Contest Winners

Click here to read the winning essay by Cade Cohorst

Click here to read the winning essay by Gretchen Hogan

The Sunflower State Games is pleased to announce Cade Cohorst and Gretchen Hogan as winners of the 2010 Healthy Kansas Essay Contest. The 2010 contest open to elementary students throughout Kansas, asked first through third graders, which of the 2010 Winter Olympic sports they would most like to play and why. Fourth through sixth grade students were asked to write about their favorite athletes from the 2010 Winter Olympics and why they are looked upon as role models.

Cohorst, third grader at Gregory Elementary School in Marysville, KS, chose the Bobsled as his favorite Winter Olympic sport. Cohorst explained, “I would like to be the pilot on a Bobsled team because it would be fun to race at 80 miles an hour or more. During snow days, I like to pretend I'm on a Bobsled with my friends!"

Hogan, sixth grader from the School of Life and Learning in Cimarron, KS, picked Brenden Morrow of the Canadian Hockey team as her favorite athlete from the 2010 Winter Olympics. Hogan, who has enjoyed hockey for many years, states that Brenden Morrow plays with passion and emotion. Hogan also writes, "I like Brenden because he is a great hockey player, but an even better person."

Healthy Kansas, a program of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment sponsored the contest and assisted in selecting the winning essays. As winners of the 2010 essay contest, each will receive a SSG Gold Medal, a commemorative 2010 SSG T-shirt, a Barnes & Noble gift certificate and a $50 savings bond. Additionally, they are invited to read their essays at the Sunflower State Games V.I.P. Reception on July 8, 2010.