CHARLESTON, WV – First Lady Cathy Justice is happy to announce the winners of her St. Patrick’s Day Essay Contest. Seventh-grade students across the state were asked to think and then write about the following Irish proverb: A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. The First Lady had 331 essays submitted from 23 counties and was thrilled to see the creativity of West Virginia’s children.“I was so impressed with these 15 essays from our 7th-grade students! We received essays about mothers, fathers, teachers, friends… and even pets that show how lucky students feel to have such wonderful, supportive relationships," First Lady Cathy Justice said.The winners of the First Lady’s St. Patrick’s Day Essay Contest are: 1st Place - $100
Chelsea Kelly
West Preston Middle School
Preston County
2nd Place - $75Riley CurfmanRavenswood Middle SchoolJackson County3rd Place - $75Logan RamseyGilmer County High SchoolGilmer County4th Place - $50Owen DobrzynskiWarwood Middle SchoolMonongalia County5th Place - $50Chloe AddieMountaineer Middle SchoolMonongalia County6th Place - $50Bryson DowdyJohn Adams Middle SchoolKanawha County7th Place - $50Keith MartinMeadow Bridge High SchoolFayette County8th Place - $50Kiley StowAndrew Jackson Middle SchoolKanawha County9th Place - $50Anna ContraguerroWheeling Country Day SchoolOhio County10th Place - $50David RomeroPendleton County Middle SchoolPendleton CountyHonorable Mentions - $25Britney Foster, Clay County Middle School, Clay CountyJada Mazur, Sherman Junior High School, Boone CountyAnthony Mealy, Warwood Middle School, Ohio CountyLucas Milam, Summersville Middle School, Nicholas CountyBailey Pritt, Braxton County Middle School, Braxton CountyThis contest was the eighth installment of the First Lady’s “Student Artist Series” initiative. On special holidays, she will host different art competitions or projects for students to participate in, encouraging creativity and promoting the importance of the arts within schools throughout West Virginia.