Three Simpson County high school students will share $1000 in prize money for winning top spots in the Bicentennial Essay Contest.
First place and $500 went to Ahmari Lockhart of Mendenhall High School. The second place winner of $300 was Ruth Hazelwood, a home school student, and the third place winner of $200 was Mendenhall High School student Ralea Hanna.
Winners were announced and recognized at the Bicentennial Book Signing and Art Show in Magee on April 18.
The contest was sponsored by the Simpson County Bicentennial Committee as part of the county’s 200th Birthday celebration. Participants had to be seniors at any county high school or home school and residents of Simpson County. The topic for the 500-600 word essay was Simpson County: A Place to Celebrate.
Essays were judged on content, originality, clarity of expression and organization of ideas, competent use of the English language and creativity.
The winning essays will be printed in the Magee Courier/Simpson County News over the next few editions.
