Pictures of the 2025 Life Lessons Essay Contest winners (Canton BBB)
The BBB ® Charitable & Educational Fund, Inc., serving the Canton Region and Greater West Virginia, is excited to announce the scholarship winners in the seventh annual BBB ® Life Lessons Essay Contest.
BBB ® Life Lessons is a theme-based essay contest that challenges students to reflect on living a life with integrity and ethics. This year’s essay theme was AI’s impact on core values. There is no minimum GPA requirement to apply, and the funds can be used toward any type of post-high school education, including college, university, trade schools, career, or technical schooling.
The contest is for graduating seniors located within the BBB serving the Canton Region & Greater West Virginia’s service area, which includes 12 counties in southeastern Ohio and 52 counties in West Virginia. Six scholarships are awarded in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,500. There were 166 essays submitted by students from 73 schools.
1st place - Gianna Anderson – Hoover High School, North Canton, OH
2nd place - Josie Spellman – Lake High School, Uniontown, OH
3rd place - Carter Menegay – East Canton High School, East Canton, OH
4th place - Wesley Molish – Madonna High School, Weirton, WV
5th place - Kylie Fawver – Shenandoah High School, Sarahsville, OH
6th place - Kelsie Edie – Conotton Valley High School, Bowerston, OH
“As Chair, I am deeply honored and genuinely thrilled to recognize these outstanding students whose thoughtful essays on the ethical use of AI demonstrate not only their intellectual curiosity but also their commitment to shaping a responsible future, said Teresa Fox, Chair of the BBB Charitable and Educational Fund. “Awarding these scholarships is more than just celebrating academic achievement—it is an investment in the next generation of leaders who will harness technology with integrity, empathy, and wisdom. Congratulations to all the winners; your voices inspire us all to use AI ethically and thoughtfully.”
The scholarships are awarded by the BBB® Charitable & Educational Fund’s Sr-2-Sr program. This separate nonprofit entity was founded in 2012 by the Better Business Bureau Serving Canton Region & Greater West Virginia to provide educational services to individuals ranging from high school seniors to senior citizens. The program focuses on how to be a savvy consumer and provides information on various types of scams and tips on how to avoid falling victim to scams.
For more information on the BBB ® Life Lessons Essay Contest, go to https://bit.ly/CantonBBBLifeLessonsEssayContest.