On Sunday, the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 264, recognized the winners of their annual essay contest. Pictured are Leah Burns, 8th grade, Ali Acord, 9th grade, Kaiti White, 11th grade, and Pearl Ugwa-Dike, 12th grade.

For more than 30 years, the members of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 264 have held an essay contest with certificates, prize money and ultimately, a national scholarship on the line.

    Sunday, winners were announced at the FRA location on Highway 39 North. Students from schools from Jackson, Hattiesburg and Lauderdale County won in their respective grade categories using the title “What Patriotism Means to Me” as the subject.

    “This is an annual event and we always pick a subject that has something to do with our country’s veterans and the freedoms they have provided,” said Ricky Nelson, who is the president of Branch 264. “This year’s winners are fine examples of young people who clearly

know what it is to be a patriot and how important past, present and future military service men and women are to preserving our rights.”

    Winners this year on the local level were for the 8th grade, Leah Burns of Collinsville, 9th grade, Ali Acord of Meridian, 11th grade, Kaiti White of Jackson, and 12th grade, Pearl Ugwa-Dike from Hattiesburg.

    Ugwa-Dike was also informed during the event she placed third in the Southeast Region and her essay will go on to the national level to be judged. If she wins, she will receive a scholarship. Sunday, Nelson presented her and the other winners with certificates and a $50 prize.

    Ugwa-Dike won a scholarship last year when she entered a Veterans of Foreign Wars essay contest. She is on a bit of a roll and she shared a little of her entry this year.

     “We have so many every day patriots who help us in peace and war,” she said. “I just wanted to get across we as citizens don’t need to lose sight of who they are and what they do for us.”