The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Breanna Mays and Malachi Dumas were unable to attend the gala due to a conflict with the LCJH Eighth Grade Banquet. All four students will be recognized during the May 9, Board of Trustees regular meeting.

Students from both Mauriceville Middle and Little Cypress Junior High Schools were recognized for their essays in the 2016 Do the Write Thing Challenge. The contest, which takes place all across America, encourages students to rise to the challenge of doing something to end violence among young people.

Seventh graders Eli Hughes and Faith Stanley from MMS were finalists and Faith’s essay is going to the State Contest for judging. Faith will also be invited to a summer institute at Lamar University because of her accomplishment. LCJH students are Malachi Dumas and Breanna Mays, both eighth graders. Their teachers are Julie Pelt, MMS and Stephanie Lyons, LCJH.

The Challenge gives middle and junior high school students an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives and communicate in writing what they think should be done to change the culture of violence. Personal responsibility is emphasized. By encouraging students to make personal commitments to do something about the problem, the program ultimately seeks to give them the opportunity to break the cycles of violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods.