Platteville Middle School eighth-grade students Venkat Reddy and Ben Pluemer were winners in the annual Optimist Club essay contest.

This year’s theme was “How Dreams Lead to Success.” Reddy and Pluemer each received a $100 scholarship from the two local Optimist Clubs.  In addition, their essays will be sent to the next level to be judged along with winners from other Optimist Clubs in the district.  The top prize is a $2,500 college scholarship.

“We had a great response to the contest this year,” said Noon Club President Christine Storlie, “There were 23 entries, which is the most we’ve had in the last five years.”

“Both Reddy and Pluemer did a wonderful job articulating this year’s theme,” said Breakfast Club President Eileen Engelke. “They expressed themselves well through their writing and deserved the honor of first place,”

Platteville has two Optimist Clubs. The Breakfast Club, established in 1968, meets at Take Two Restaurant each Friday at 7 a.m. The Noon Club was organized in 2009 and meets at Cold Fusion for lunch on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Both groups are dedicated to programs that support area kids.