NATCHITOCHES – Madison Jackson of West Monroe High School has been named the first-place winner of the 2023 Northwestern State University High School Essay Contest. Jackson won the honor for her essay “Suppressing Systemic Racism One Step at a Time: The Housing Crisis in Louisiana.” Tyron Martin of Hahnville High School in Boutte won second place for his essay “Shining a Light: The Transformative Power of Journalism” and Ryan Sinegal of Delcambre High School won third place for her essay “In 20 years….” Three students received Honorable Mention, Caroline Blanchard of Holy Savior Menard Central High School for her essay “Bridging the Gap for Children in Louisiana,” Bailey Robert of Breaux Bridge High School for her essay “Veterinarian” and Rebecca Theriot of Houma Christian School for her essay “Music Makes Change.”
Writing on the 2023 contest theme “Louisiana Futures,” entrants were invited to address the following prompt: “Imagine yourself in twenty years. What is your occupation? How does your work improve Louisiana?”
“I have read the high school essays for several years now and it brings me great pride to know Louisiana high school students are thinking about topics such as financial literacy, the state housing crisis and systemic racism,” said Jason Church, chief of technical services at the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training and co-chair of the Contest. “After reading this year’s essays and feeling the students’ concern for our future and their passion for wanting to be part of the change that makes this state great, I know that we are leaving our state’s future in great hands.”
Contest winners have been invited to attend the 15th Annual Louisiana Studies Conference on Saturday, Sept. 23 to read their essays to the Conference participants prior to having their essays published in the Louisiana Folklife Journal which is published by the Louisiana Folklife Center. The Louisiana Studies Conference will be held on the Natchitoches campus of Northwestern State University. This year’s conference theme is “Louisiana Works.” Attendance at the conference is free and open to the public.
The first, second, and third prize winners will each receive a $200 per semester NSU scholarship with a value up to $1,600 over four years. All of the contest winners will receive a cash prize in honor of their accomplishment. The essay contest is open to all Louisiana students in grades 9 – 12 regardless of type of school institution, including students in all types of private educational environments, as well as home schooled students.
This year’s essay contest judges were Dr. Rebecca Macijeski, creative writing program coordinator and associate professor of English; Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English, and Church.
The contest was sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center, the NSU Office of Recruiting and the College of Arts, Letters, Graduate Studies and Research. The contest is annual, with a new theme to be announced in early Spring 2024.
For more information contact Dr. Shane Rasmussen, NSU Box 5688, Natchitoches, LA 71497, rasmussens@nsula.edu, or call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332.
