Updated: Village Kicks Off 'Why I Love Buffalo Grove' Contest

Rachel Becker loves her hometown. And the 10-year-old is pretty sure others feel the same way.

At the suggestion of Rachel, a fifth-grader at Prairie Elementary School, the Village of Buffalo Grove is conducting a "Why I Love Buffalo Grove" contest. The contest invites Buffalo Grove students from kindergarten through high school to submit entries describing what they love about the village.

And there's just so much to love about the town, said Rachel, who breaks into a smile when she considers all the reasons.

"I love the farmers market, the parks, the dance teams and the restaurants," she said.

Rachel said she came up with the idea for the contest while attending Buffalo Grove Days in 2009, where she ran into Village President Elliott Hartstein.

"I told the mayor I loved Buffalo Grove," she said. "I said we should have a contest in the schools."

Rachel's father, David Becker, attended Monday's Village Board meeting with his daughter, whose initiative was recognized by trustees.

"I think it's fantastic," he said. "A community listened to its residents."

When Buffalo Grove resident Stan Zoller heard about Rachel's proposal, he offered to help develop contest guidelines.

"It just hit a chord," Zoller said. "It's an easy way for me to give back to the village."

Entrants can express their love for the village through essays, drawings, photos, collages and videos. Students are encouraged to be creative and to research the village to learn more about it.

Winners will be selected from four categories: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and ninth through twelfth grade.

Entry forms are available from Village Hall and the village's website. Submissions are due March 1, 2011, and winners will be named in May. The contest awards a $100 savings bond to a winner in each age category. Winners will also be invited to participate in the 2011 Buffalo Grove Days parade, and will be recognized by the Village Board.

2/7/11 UPDATE: The contest deadline has been extended to April 1.