It’s that time of year again! For the last three years, Just In Time Staffing has been proud to support the Save Texas History Essay Contest. This contest, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office’s Save Texas History Program, asks students across the state to consider the question, “What history in your community is worth saving”? The contest encourages young Texans to get out into their communities and discover their local history while writing about it in a way that communicates that story to others. Entries were judged on originality, writing skills, and grammar and punctuation.
We’re so proud of this year’s entrants and the great work they turned in!
In Fourth Grade, the Winner is…
This year, the fourth-grade grand prize winner is George Vernau III, who wrote on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the NASA Area Little League (NALL). His essay, NALL: The Space Baseball Community, considers the role that NASA personnel played in his community over the course of generations. It’s not every student who can say that their baseball coach has been to space and back, as George astutely points out. George is in Ms. Christina Sharp’s class at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School in Houston and will receive a $500 cash prize.
You can read his full entry here.
In Seventh Grade, the Winner is…
This year, the seventh-grade grand prize winner is Aiden Williams, who wrote on Houston’s historic Fourth Ward and Freedmen’s Town. His essay discusses these areas, built after the Civil War by former slaves who wanted to create their own communities, the roles the remains of these “Freedom Colonies” still play in the community today and why it’s important to preserve them. As Aiden writes, “it is important to save these bricks because it shows us what the people in the past generations could build, create, and their interests.” Aiden is in Ms. Aimee Schultz’s class at South Houston Intermediate School in Houston, and he too will receive a $500 cash prize.
You can read his full essay here.
But That’s Not All…
Finalists from across the state came from a wide range of backgrounds and schools and wrote on an incredibly wide range of topics. Public, private and home-schooled students alike all participated in this noble endeavor. From Tarrytown Park in Austin, to Bridge’s Cemetery, to Clark Gardens in Mineral Wells, TX, the locations studied by these young students were equally many and varied. We’re proud of all of entrants and the hard work they put in.
Here at Just In Time Staffing, we’re proud to be Texans—and even more proud to support the preservation of Texas history throughout the state. To learn more about the annual contest or the Save Texas History program, check out their website. And while you’re here, if you’re a nurse or medical contractor looking for flexible work and great pay, you may want to take a peek at our open positions. If you have any questions about Texas culture or medical contracting, we can help—so connect with us today!