MCHS students win in BC essay contest

Miller County High School students earned recognition at the annual essay contest at Bainbridge College. Jessica King won the $50 third place award and plaque while Kimberly Duncan received an Honorable Mention plaque. MCHS competitors (L-R, front) are Kimberly Duncan, Tressa Kellley, Jessica King, and Stephanie Hart. Back are Colby Widner, English Department Chair Leigh Ann Walton and Danyelle Guy. They were among 36 students from five high schools who competed. Ginger R. Webster is MCHS principal.

A record number of 36 students from five high schools competed at the 21st Annual Essay Competition for High School Seniors, according to Dr. Stan Webb, chair of the Bainbridge College Arts and Sciences Division that sponsors the event.

Jessica King of Miller County High School (MCHS) won the $50 third place award and plaque; Alex Rentz of Bainbridge High School (BHS) captured the $150 first place award and plaque. Anna Dorsey of Cairo High School (CHS) won $100 and the second place plaque.

Honorable Mention plaques went to Kimberly Duncan of MCHS and to Andrea Jenkins and Tyler Winzell of CHS.

Working under the pressure of writing on one of four topics revealed at the start of the event, students from BHS, CHS, MCHS, Robert F. Munroe Day School in Quincy, FL, and Worth County High School in Sylvester had two hours to complete their work on the essays that were limited to 600- 700 words.

Judges for the April 26 event at the Continuing Education Center were BC faculty members Dr. Betty LaFace, Dr. Marina

von Hirsch and Dr. Tonya Strickland. Others assisting

the Continuing Education Division, Student Services, Beverly Widener, Joy Burrell, Angela Cook and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Rob Gingras, who officiated at the Awards Ceremony. Bainbridge College Foundation assisted with funding the event.

At the afternoon awards ceremony in the Student Center, Dr. Gingras distributed the awards and gave certificates to all participants. Dr. Webb, coordinator of the event, distributed BC T-shirts and other gifts to the students.