Over 70 Albany elementary and middle school students participated in this year's inaugural local competition as part of the long-running Oregon Mayors Association "If I Were Mayor" statewide student contest.
Students were asked, "What would you do as mayor?" Students in the 4th and 5th grade category made posters while middle school students wrote short essays. Their entries were judged on creativity, clarity, grammar, and understanding of local government and the position of mayor. The local finalists had lunch with the Mayor last Friday at the Riverfront Community Center where they received a certificate and water bottle from Mayor Alex Johnson II.
Mikayla Chaffins, an 8th grader at North Albany Middle School was chosen by judges as the winner of the middle school essay competition. At Friday's lunch with the mayor she was awarded a cash prize and gift certificates to Splatterbox and the Pix Theatre.
Brynlee Washburn, a 5th grader at Liberty Elementary School made the winning poster this year. Her cash prize and gift certificates to Splatterbox and Albany Parks & Recreation were presented in front of her class on Tuesday, April 12.
Brynlee and Mikayla will now move on as Albany's representatives in the statewide competition where they will each be eligible for a $500 prize from the Oregon Mayors Association.
All of the poster entries are on display in the Sharon Konopa Garden Room on the first floor of the main Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE, from April 12-23 during regular hours.
Information about next year's local competition will be on the website and City of Albany social media accounts starting in January 2023.
