SKOWHEGAN – The Margaret Chase Smith Library has announced the winners of the eighth annual Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest.

Rebecca Leathe, a graduate of Marshwood High School in South Berwick, won the first-place prize of $500. Her essay will appear in an upcoming issue of the Maine Policy Review published by the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy at the University of Maine.

Deanna Sawtelle of Albion received the second-place prize of $250. David Sansoucy from Biddeford High School won third place and received a $125 prize.

Honorable mention awards of $25 went to Emily Baker, Gray-New Gloucester High School; Erin Bilodea, Lake Region High School; Jordan Davis, Katahdin High School; Sarah Dietsch, Marshwood High School; and Andrea Gammon, Portland High School.

Students were asked to submit essays proposing ways to encourage young people to become more involved in the political process.

For information on the 2005 essay contest, call David Richards at 474-7133.