Dr. Ron McBride, chair of the competition, William Brown, Kylee Brudige, Thomas Celles, Caroline Ferrell, and Hannah Ferguson.

The Natchitoches Rotary Club completed its 4th Annual Scholarship Essay Competition. The winners were announced at the May 31 meeting. St. Mary’s student Thomas Celles won the $1,000 scholarship, followed by four from Natchitoches Central High School: Hannah Ferguson, $650; Caroline Ferrell, $450; Kylee Brundige, $250; and William Brown, $250.

The competition showcases talented writers in area schools. It requires they write using Rotary International’s Four-Way Test, which is the guide that all Rotarians follow.
All schools in the parish were invited to submit essays. A panel of Rotarian’s conducted a blind review of the essays submitted. The top five finalists presented their essays to the club where the Rotarians voted on the presentations. The essay titles submitted by the finalists in the competition included: “The Four Way Test,” Thomas Celles; “Ripples,” Hannah Ferguson; “At the End of My Comfort Zone,” Caroline Ferrell; “The Test to Conquer All,” Kylee Brudige; and “When Your Comfort Zone Ends,” William Brown.