Middlesboro fifth-grader PJ Brock Jr. is being honored this week as the state winner of the annual AARP Kentucky/Kentucky Retired Teachers Association Grandparent of the Year Essay contest.

The Middlesboro Retired Teachers Association honored PJ at their regular luncheon at Shades Cafe last Wednesday.

Brock won first place in both the district and the state in the annual Grandparent of the Year Essay contest. He was also set to be recognized at the AARP luncheon in Louisville on Tuesday, April 22.

PJ was joined by his mother Ashley Beeler, grandmother Sue Beeler and MMS Writing Interventionist Sandy Evans at the luncheon. He read his full essay, which was about Sue Beeler and her kindness and generosity.

“My life would be going in so many different directions if she wasn’t there to love me. This is why I want my grandmother to be the AARP Grandparent of the Year,” PJ’s essay concluded.

Paula Adams, the president of the Middlesboro Retired Teachers Association presented Brock with his certificates and cash prizes for being named the school, county, and district winner of the essay contest.

“Every year the Middlesboro Retired Teachers does this Grandparents Essay contest, Bell County and Pineville also do one and we pick one county winner. Our county winner was submitted up to the district and PJ was picked over four others and he won the district,” Adams said. “Fourteen districts from all over the state of Kentucky sent in their winners and his essay beat all of theirs. I never thought our little city from southeastern Kentucky would win, but this is our first time doing this.”

The AARP Kentucky/Kentucky Retired Teachers Association Grandparent Essay Contest began 25 years ago (2001), its aim is to engage fifth graders and improve their writing skills.

“We’re really proud of PJ, this is a big deal,” Evans said.

The “AARP Grandparent of the Year” essay contest is organized by local Kentucky Retired Teacher Association units and AARP Kentucky volunteers statewide. They spend countless hours promoting and coordinating the contest within their local school districts to ensure participation and serve as local contest judges. AARP Kentucky and KRTA share a long and successful history of working together to serve each organizations’ social mission and to grow the annual essay contest.

Judging is based on grammar, form, neatness, creativity, expression, and characteristics of the grandparent. Local volunteers from KRTA’s 118 local units facilitate the contest. The 2024 winner was selected by a panel of volunteers with AARP Kentucky and KRTA.

PJ was to  receive his awards for being the state winner on Tuesday. Sue Beeler was also to be honored in Louisville as the AARP Kentucky Grandparent of the Year.