Students, parents and teachers from 32 different Catholic schools in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese visited UST’s campus on Monday, Jan. 28, for an awards ceremony honoring the winners of the UST/Archdiocesan Essay Contest.

This year’s essay contest theme, “Recognizing a Leader of Faith and Character Who Also Lights the Way,” concurs with the theme for the 2008 Catholic Schools Week, “Light the Way.”

A committee comprised of UST faculty members read 2,419 essays by students ranging from grades 3 to 12. Participants’ essays were grouped into three divisions: grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.

Students were asked to write an essay based on their answer to the following question: “In today’s world, is it really possible to be a leader who not only has faith and character but who also is able to light the way to heaven for others? And if so, is there someone affiliated with your school who personifies that such a leader can exist?”

Scholarships were awarded to winners in the 9th-12th grade category. David Markus, a sophomore at St. Thomas High School, was awarded a first place prize of a $1,500 UST scholarship for four years. Also from St. Thomas High School, freshman Ethan Miller and sophomore Peter Schoeffeld both received $1,000 UST scholarships for four years as second place winners.

To read David Markus' essay click here.

Elizabeth Reyes, a seventh-grader from St. Francis de Sales School, won first place in the 6th-8th grade division. In her essay, she honored her coach Flirtisha Harris.

To read Reyes' essay click here.

In the 3rd-5th grade division, Amanda Barnardy of Corpus Christi Catholic School won first place. She honored Victoria Necroto, her fifth grade teacher.

To read Barnardy's essay click here.

Anyone interested in purchasing pictures from the event, may go to www.KimCoffmanphoto.com.