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LINCOLNTON––The Lincoln County Health Department recently released the names of its essay contest winners.

According to Lincoln County Public Affairs Officer Vanessa León, the department extended congratulations to the winners of its third annual Public Health Leadership Essay Contest. Each of the participants had to write a 1,500-word essay on a health-related theme.

“Special thanks to our panelists and the Lincoln County Board of Health for making these scholarship opportunities possible for youth in our community,” León added.

Hallie Black earned first-place honors for her essay, “Growing Microbial Drug Resistance: Could Gene Therapy Be the Cure?” Zack Garner took home second-place honors for his essay, “Physical Inactivity: A Public Health Crisis.” And Madison Stutts won third place for her essay, “Cardiovascular Disease.”

León informed that the high school students respectively earned a $700 scholarship and $75 gift certificate; a $450 scholarship and $50 gift certificate; and a $200 scholarship and $50 gift certificate.

The contest was created as an opportunity for young, emerging leaders who have an interest in improving public health.

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