Jessica Halloran, a senior at Lindbergh High School, took first place in the 2006 Southeast Missouri Writing Achievement Awards.

Halloran’s entry, “Renewing Christmas,” was selected as the top entry in the 10th- to 12th-grade essay contest sponsored by the English Department at Southeast Missouri State University.

Halloran’s communication arts teacher, Tracy Fischer, stated in a news release issued by the district, “The 10-12 essay category is highly competitive with entries submitted from around the state.

“Competition is extremely tough, so her first place win is huge,” Fischer added.

The Lindbergh senior will attend the University of Missouri-Columbia this fall, but is undecided about her major.

Writing is something she definitely enjoys, according to the news release.

“English is one of my favorite subjects, along with history and psychology. In college I plan to get a feel for different things to find out what I really do like,” the Lindbergh senior stated in the news release.

Besides being president of the National Honor Society, she is involved with Student Council and DECA, the high school marketing club.

Halloran will be honored at Southeast’s 2006 Awards Ceremony Saturday, April 8, the release stated.

Her essay, along with other winning students’ works, will be published in an awards book.