Members of the Greater Lansing Optimist club honored Amari Jimenez-Demoss, a senior at J.W. Sexton High School (Lansing School District), for his first-place entry in the club’s Optimist International Scholarship Essay Contest. The ceremony, held Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the high school, was attended by Sexton Principal Daniel Boggan, school counselor Casey Beauchamp, and Amari’s family and friends.
Greater Lansing Optimist Club members Dee Halstead (president), Mary Wahl (secretary), Elizabeth Johnson (essay chair), and Bill Wahl presented Amari with a medallion, certificate, and a $50 Visa gift card. Amari’s winning essay focused on how optimism connected him with his family members as they helped him persevere through many obstacles as he pursued his first after-school job.
Amari’s counselor and grandmother both commented on how proud they were of Amari for stepping outside his comfort zone and overcoming his natural shyness to submit an entry to the essay contest.
This is the first year that the Greater Lansing club has participated in the scholarship essay contest.
Photo #1 ID: Sexton principal Daniel Boggan, Anthony Spencer (Amari’s stepfather), essay contest winner Amari Jimenez-Demoss, Laura Jimenez-Bonney (Amari’s grandmother), and Greater Lansing Optimist Club members Elizabeth Johnson, Mary Wahl, and Dee Halstead.
Photo #2 ID: Sexton High School senior Amari Jimenez-Demoss, winner of the Greater Lansing Optimist Club scholarship essay contest, with his proud grandmother, Laura Jimenez-Bonney.
