Buffalo Grove asks students to express love for their hometown

Buffalo Grove is inviting its young people to declare their love for Buffalo Grove.

Village officials this week announced the launch of the “Why I Love Buffalo Grove” contest giving local students from kindergarten to 12th grade a chance to win money and recognition by expressing what makes their community special.

The contest was the idea of 10-year-old Rachel Becker, a student at Prairie Elementary School, who happened to share the suggestion with Village President Elliott Hartstein at the Bingo Tent during Buffalo Grove Days.

“That's what this is all about,” Hartstein said. “People sharing ideas with the village of Buffalo Grove and us acting upon them.”

Trustee Beverly Sussman, who worked with others on the implementation of the idea, said a committee will review entries and select the winners. Students with the chosen entries will receive a $100 U.S. savings bond, a chance to participate in the Buffalo Grove Days parade and recognition by the village board.

Sussman, who commended Buffalo Grove resident and teacher Stan Zoller for providing the guidelines and review criteria, said winners will be selected from four categories corresponding to the following grade levels: K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12.

Submissions can include essays, drawings, photographs, videos, collages or PowerPoint presentations.

Entries are due by March 1, with the winners announced in May. Entry forms are available at the front desk of village hall or on the village's website.

Sussman said superintendents of schools with Buffalo Grove residents will receive a letter explaining the contest.

Becker said she was excited about the village picking up her idea. She said she loves Buffalo Grove for its farmers market, its parks and its dance teams, among other things.

“I think it's fantastic when a community leader listens to residents and something positive comes out of it,” said her father, David Becker. “I think it's a positive for the community.”