Zach Van Sickle won an essay contest sponsored by the Effingham County Hussars, No. 2285, Georgia Division, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Van Sickle, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Van Sickle, attended Rincon Elementary School, where his teacher was Cindy Howard. He won first place in the fifth grade division for his essay on “Stonewall Jackson’s Last Battle.” Van Sickle was honored at the group’s Confederate Day memorial service and was awarded a check and a certificate.

The essays in schools contest is sponsored annually by the Effingham Hussars and there are three levels of competition — local, district and state. Van Sickle’s essay was forwarded to the district director, where it was judged to be the fifth-grade winner and then sent to the state division chairman for competition.

Van Sickle was notified he won the state competition, and he will be honored at the annual convention of the Georgia Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, in Augusta in October.