Over 46,000 Georgia 9-12th grade students gave their answer in essays submitted to the 2008 Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest.  The contest, sponsored by Georgia Rotary Clubs, is for students to understand what their core values are and how these values carry us through life.

Marlene Free, Laws of Life Committee chair for the Bainbridge Rotary, stated that the Laws of Life contest is a character education program for high school students. The contest requires students to select a maxim, to write about the character value in the maxim and how it applies to the students life.

Jeanine Halada is the Bainbridge High coordinator for the contest. Ms Halada stated that there were a total of 964 essays were submitted from Bainbridge High School that according to Ms Halada the students participating shared in their essays some of their most personal moments.

"The Laws of Life are the core values that we take with us wherever we go and with whatever we do", Ms Halada explained. "It challenges young people, of all ages, to discover for themselves the values that will guide them throughout their lives." The contest, Ms Halada stated, doesn't tell what students should write about, they are only required to write with their hearts.

Bainbridge High Laws of Life winner for each grade are:
9th Grade:
Rebecca Locke, Grade Winner  
Honorable Mention: Whitney Poppell, Cole Farrington, Garrett Lambert and Caden Black

10th Grade:
Emily Newsome, Grade Winner  Read Essay
Honorable Mention: Joshua Williams, Maria Secundino

and Addie Livingston Read Essay


11th Grade:
Amber Lyon Yerkes, Grade Winner  Read Essay
Honorable Mention: Shane Bowen, Kimberly Kelly and Megan White


12th Grade
Alyson Pittman, School Winner, Grade Winner and State 5th Place Winner Read Essay
Honorable Mentions: Bailey Keasler, Ash Bailey and Justin Johnson