Annemarie Nichols Wins “Partnership With Education” Writing Competition

$500 scholarship awarded to winning entry
By Sid Riley

The judging is completed and Annemarie Nichols of Graceville High with her poem “Words” has been declared the First Place Winner of the ‘Partnership With Education” writing competition hosted by the Jackson County Times which took place over a fifteen week period and involved the English departments of all five area public high schools. Annemarie will be awarded a $500 scholarship check from the Jackson County Times. She is the daughter of Rosa and Dr. Terry Nichols of Graceville, Florida. Other runner-up winning entries included Dallin Kelson of Marianna High, Jordan Thames of Sneads High, and Brian Long of Sneads High. These winning students will each receive a check for $25.00 from the Jackson County Times.

This writing competition was designed to stimulate increased interest among students in developing their writing skills. The experience of authoring a writing in the form of an essay, theme, or poem, and then having the satisfaction of seeing their creation published for public consumption will hopefully stimulate some students to pursue a career in writing.

This approach is an excellent example of combining the support of the business community, the media, and the School System into a classroom directed program of involvement. We thank the following sponsors for assisting in the funding of this worthwhile program:

Waste Management
McCoy’s
Marianna Toyota
Wal-Mart
1st Capital Bank
Tyndall Federal Credit Union
Anderson Columbia
Beauchamp’s Hardware
West Florida Electric Co-Op
People’s Bank of Graceville
Fairfield Inn
James and Lipford Funeral Home
Cohee’s Café
Braxton’s Oyster Bar and Grill
Commissioner Edward Crutchfield
School Board Member Kenny Griffin
School Board Member Charlotte Gardner
Bondurant and Fuqua Attorneys
El Governor Motel, Mexico Beach
City of Graceville
M & P Trucking
Chipola River Book and Tea
Baptist College of Florida
School Board Member Chris Johnson
Register’s Meats
Commissioner Jeremy Branch

These companies and individuals have demonstrated a continuing interest in assisting in the improvement of our educational programs. Please personally thank them for their community involvement.

We would also like to thank School Superintendent Lee Miller, Assistant Superintendent, Larry Moore, all five High School Principals in the Jackson County Public High Schools, English Department Directors Holli Fears (Sneads High), Tammy Johnson (Marianna High), Sheryl Brock (Cottondale High), Ann Lee (Graceville High), and Kaye Lewis (Malone High), as well as all of the students who submitted entries for everyone’s enjoyment.

Additionally we wish to thank the judges who had the difficult choice of choosing the winners of the great student writings which were entered in the contest. These were Mrs. Sarah Clemmons, VP Of Instruction and Student Services at Chipola, Kenny Griffin, School Board Member and Business Service Coordinator for Workforce Development, Linda Cox, Jackson County School Board Director of Elementary Education, and Sid Riley, Managing Director of the Jackson County Times.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Jackson County School Board, the winners of this competition were given their checks by School Superintendent, Lee Miller. Our congratulations to all participating students.