Students honored for essays

  • Published
  • By Col. David Talley
  • Public Affairs
Nine Atlanta area students received special recognition in a ceremony here May 21 for their winning entries in the Heritage to Horizons essay contest. Officials from the Air Force Reserve presented donated prizes to each student. 

Elementary School Winners and Awards:
3rd place winner: $100 cash award, Dobbins 56 Group organization
Deon T. Geiger, 5th grade, Hawthorne Elementary School, Clayton County, Hampton, Ga.

2nd place winner: $150 cash award, Dobbins Top 3 organization
Allison Higgins, 5th grade, Charles Lewis Gideon Elementary School, Atlanta Public Schools,
Atlanta, Ga.

1st place winner: $200 cash award,
Kaitlyn Martin, 5th grade, Hawthorne Elementary School, Clayton County, Hampton, Ga.

Middle School Winners:
3rd place winner: Personal Play Station (PSP),
Jalen Thomas, 6th grade, Henry McNeal Turner Middle School, Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta, Ga.

2nd place winner: IPOD,
Aaron Riker, 7th grade, Dickerson Middle School, Cobb County, Marietta, Ga.

1st place winner: Computer,
Persephanie May, 6th grade, Avondale Middle School, Dekalb County, Avondate Estates, Ga.

High School Winners:
3rd place winner: $1,000 cash scholarship, Associated Credit Union
Amy Caldwell, 10th grade, Carl Harrison High School, Cobb County, Kennesaw, Ga.

2nd place winner: $1,500 cash scholarship, Associated Credit Union
Jason Gerson, 9th grade, Walton High School, Cobb County, Marietta, Ga.

1st place winner: $2,500 cash scholarship, Associated Credit Union
Evan Woolard, 12th grade, Marietta High School, Cobb County, Marietta, Ga.

The contest was one of several local events either sponsored or supported by the Air Force Reserve and the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base this year as part of a nationwide celebration of the Air Force's 60th Anniversary and the theme Heritage to Horizons. 

Students from 689 Metro Regional Educational Service Agency (Metro-RESA) district public schools were invited to write an essay that expressed their thoughts on the Air Force anniversary theme. Each student was encouraged to focus on how the rich heritage of the Air Force has contributed to the limitless horizons of the world today and how their own heritage has contributed to expanding their personal horizons.