Published: October 10, 2008 06:23 pm            

Gatlin receives a $1,000 grant

Alexandria Gatlin received the recognition of public officials and $1,000 for an essay she wrote.

The Athens Intermediate School fifth grader along with the other students in her grade participated in the Luminant Scholar Program. The scholarship program is sponsored by Luminant, a competitive power generation company and subsidiary of Energy Future Holding, that asks students to write an essay about environmental awareness.

State Representative Betty Brown and State Senator Robert Nichols were both present to show their admiration for Gatlin.

“We celebrate athletics a lot,” Brown told the fifth graders, “but sometimes we neglect the scholarship part of school.”

Gatlin received a $1,000 United States Savings Bond from the Luminant Scholar Program and a state flag that was flown over the state capital in Austin Thursday. Also, every fifth grader and teacher received a T-shirt from the company.

Luminant Scholar Director Robert Gentry spoke to the students about the importance of energy conservation and a few things the students could do.

“It takes all of us,” he said.

Gatlin’s essay follows the cycle of life cycle of a rain drop.

“Hi, I’m a raindrop and let me tell you how I went on an adventure and how I because an ugly polluted raindrop but then was transformed into a crystal-clean drinkable raindrop,” Gatlin’s essay begins.

Now her story will be entered into a contest that could result in a $5,000 grant.

The presentation wasn’t just for Gatlin, it was the entire fifth grade class who were told several times how great they were.

“We are so proud of you students,” Athens Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Hayes said. “We have the greatest group of students in Texas sitting in this room.”

        

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