The location will be H.D. Pope Funeral Home at 520 Smith Church Road. The public is invited and admission is free.
David Harvey, president of the Halifax County branch, said the judges for this year’s competition found it difficult to differentiate first, second, and third place essays from the 12 submitted.
Submissions came from KIPP Gaston College Prep, Halifax County Schools, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District and Weldon City Schools.
“As a result we ended up with a four-way tie for first place and a three-way tie for second place,” Harvey said.
The executive committee awarded cash prizes to all 12 finalists given the high level of competition.
Tied for first place are:
Hannah Scardino, RRGSD
Rayonna Armstrong, Southeast Halifax
Reginald Harris, Weldon City Schools
Yasmine Ellis, Northwest
Tied for second place are:
Kathryn Pleasant, RRGSD
Natavia Blake, Southeast Halifax
Zadaiah Roye, KIPP.
Honorable mention finalists are:
Briana Adams and Ezra DeBerry, Weldon City Schools
Peyton Jackson, RRGSD
Rakia Arrington and Seanna Richardson, KIPP.
The top four essays will be by read by the writers.
The essays will also be posted on the Roanoke Rapids Herald’s website. The newspaper is a corporate sponsor along with Pruitt Health.
A total of $1,550 will be awarded to the students.
The topic for this year’s essay was:
What are the main responsibilities of American Citizenship?
How well are Americans citizens performing these responsibilities today?