Three Brunswick High School Students Earn Top Honors in Optimist Essay Contest

Isabel Fregeolle, Winifred Brusco, and Anthony Mendise recognized for their thoughtful essays on community service.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 3:19pm

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Three students from Brunswick High School in Ohio have been named the top finishers in the 2026 Optimist Club Essay Contest. Isabel Fregeolle took first place and will advance to the Ohio District competition, while Winifred Brusco and Anthony Mendise earned second and third place, respectively. The students were recognized for their 700-800 word essays on the prompt "How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me."

Why it matters

The Optimist International Essay Competition provides an opportunity for students to develop their writing and critical thinking skills while reflecting on the importance of community service. Brunswick High School's strong showing in the contest highlights the district's commitment to encouraging students to engage with and give back to their local community.

The details

Isabel Fregeolle, Winifred Brusco, and Anthony Mendise were the top three finishers in the 2026 Optimist Club Essay Contest hosted by the Optimist Club of Brunswick, Ohio. Fregeolle's first-place essay will advance her to the Ohio District competition, where she will compete for a $3,500 scholarship. Brusco and Mendise earned second and third place, respectively, and will be recognized at the Optimist Club meeting on March 12 along with Fregeolle. All three students will receive medals and monetary awards: $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place.

  • The Optimist Club Essay Contest took place in 2026.
  • The top three finishers will be recognized at the Optimist Club meeting on March 12, 2026.
  • Isabel Fregeolle's first-place essay will advance her to the Ohio District competition in April 2026.

The players

Isabel Fregeolle

A student at Brunswick High School who won first place in the 2026 Optimist Club Essay Contest. She will advance to the Ohio District competition.

Winifred Brusco

A student at Brunswick High School who earned second place in the 2026 Optimist Club Essay Contest.

Anthony Mendise

A student at Brunswick High School who earned third place in the 2026 Optimist Club Essay Contest.

Jason Niedermeyer

The superintendent of Brunswick City Schools, who congratulated the students on their achievements and recognized the Optimist Club's ongoing partnership with the district.

Christen Pinkerman

A teacher at Brunswick High School who encouraged students to participate in the Optimist Club Essay Contest and helped them develop their writing skills.

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What they’re saying

“Congratulations to Isabel, Winifred, and Anthony. I am proud to see our students rise to challenges like this and represent Brunswick with distinction and pride through their thoughtful writing.”

— Jason Niedermeyer, Superintendent, Brunswick City Schools

“A big thank you also goes to the Optimist Club for their ongoing partnership with our schools and their many efforts to support our students and community year after year.”

— Jason Niedermeyer, Superintendent, Brunswick City Schools

What’s next

Isabel Fregeolle's first-place essay will advance her to the Ohio District competition in April 2026, where she will compete for a $3,500 scholarship.

The takeaway

The strong performance of Brunswick High School students in the Optimist Club Essay Contest highlights the district's commitment to fostering community engagement and developing students' writing and critical thinking skills. The ongoing partnership between the school district and the Optimist Club demonstrates the value of community organizations working together to support local youth.