Cherokee High School senior Heidi Martinez earned first place in the Optimist International Essay Contest for the Zone 2 region, which includes Cherokee, Pickens, and Gilmer Counties. The Zone 2 region is served by nine Optimist Clubs. Martinez will now advance to the next level of competition.

This years theme for the international contest was Is Optimism the Key to Achieving the Dreams You IMagine? Martinezs winning essay can be found on CCSDs website (Cherokee12.net).