The work of seven young people has been selected from scores of entries to the 12th annual Tom Pettit Thanksgiving Essay Competition. Judges Jennifer Hind, The Royal Gazette's Educational Services Coordinator; well-known educator, Florenz Maxwell and Attorney General Sen. Kim Wilson deliberated for some time before whittling down a dozen contenders to just seven. The quality of the essays submitted was of a high standard, and the judges found it difficult to select the finalists and the winner, who will be announced by Premier Ewart Brown at a special reception at Camden on Wednesday, November 26 at 4 p.m.

The finalists (in alphabetical order) are: Falconeri Bacabac (CedarBridge Academy), Kiara Waynette Baxter (Berkeley Institute), Christopher Corday (Mount Saint Agnes Academy), Gherdai Hassell, Kirista Rabain, Kaya Simmons (all of Berkeley Institute) and Kyla Sinclair (Mount Saint Agnes Academy).

Each evening on VSB Channel 11 at 6.55 p.m. one of the finalists will read his or her essay. All senior school students were eligible to enter and have the chance to win the first prize of a $1,000 grant.

The six finalists will receive "Commendation of Excellence" awards and a $500 grant. All schools will receive matching monetary grants.

The winning essay will be published next Thursday, American Thanksgiving Day, in The Royal Gazette.