'It Can Wait' essay winners announced

TOPEKA — The winners of the "It Can Wait" essay contest co-sponsored by AT&T and the Kansas Press Association include an Atchison seventh grader and a senior at Iola High School.

Winners of $500 awards are Rylee Crowell, a student at St. Benedict Catholic School, and Abigail Taylor, an Iola senior.

The contest challenged students at middle schools and high schools in Kansas to write about the issue of texting while driving. More than 600 entries were received.

"The judges were impressed with the quality of the entries and want to thank our newspaper editors for publicizing the event and the teachers of Kansas for promoting the essay competition as a class project," said Doug Anstaett, KPA executive director. "While we could only choose one overall winner in each age category, several students exhibited great writing skills and knowledge about the critical issue of distracted driving."

The two students and their parents will be recognized at the annual KPA convention April 22 in Overland Park.

Crowell, 12, wrote: "I'm always paranoid when I get into cars because what if I lose my life because someone sent a text? You can send a text whenever you want. Can you bring someone that was killed back to life? No, you can't."

Taylor wrote: "As teenagers, we are predisposed to think we are invincible. Our experience and naiveté shield us from realities and consequences. The universal mantra, 'That will never happen to me,' runs through each of our premature brains.

"Never say never, because this could happen to you."

The winning entries will be sent to the hometown newspapers of the winners and also to other KPA member newspapers for their use as well.