A student from the Visitation Academy in Frederick was named the winner in the 2012 Annual "If I Were Mayor" Essay Contest in District 6 sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League. Elizabeth Smith came in first place, and fellow Visitation student Nellie O’Brien was named first runner-up.

The two 4th graders described what they would do if they held the city's top job. The theme this year was "Meeting the Challenge."

"I am always excited about the MML Essay Contest. It affords me the opportunity to speak with our young citizens, answer their questions and give them insight into local government," says Mayor Randy McClement, in a statement. "I hope that it will initiate a desire to serve the community someday as possibly an elected official. I congratulate both these young ladies on their winning essays and also the Visitation Academy for their excellence in education."

Both girls will be honored during Thursday night's meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

The contest is sponsored by the MML, the Maryland Mayors’ Association, the Local Government Insurance Trust and the Injured Workers Insurance Fund. Essays are judged on their relation to the contest topic, knowledge of municipal government and the role of a mayor, creativity and proper use of grammer.