Winners for the Young Authors Writing Competition in Effingham County were recognized at the last board of education meeting.

Students throughout the system entered stories, poems and essays for the contest, with winners chosen from each grade. Their stories will go on to be judged against winners in other school systems in the district and the state.

After Superintendent Randy Shearouse handed out certificates, students posed for their families’ cameras. Five of the winners read their stories aloud: Randy Stapleton,12th grade, South Effingham High School; Gracin Loper, second, grade Guyton Elementary, Brandon Story, third grade, GES; Riley Wohler, first grade, GES; and Haley Osborne, sixth grade, SEMS.

Other winners were:
Tyler Garmen, kindergarten, Ebenezer Elementary
Madison Cocke, fourth grade, Ebenezer Elementary
Natalie Schaut, fifth grade, GES
D.J. Medders, seventh grade, SEMS
Ashley Smith, eighth grade, Ebenezer Middle
Savannah Wagner, ninth grade, SEHS
Rachel Williams, 10th grade, SEHS
Lea Morgan, 11th grade, ECHS