HJHS students win national honors in essay competition

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Two Hartselle Junior High School students, Madeline Sittason and Jesse Mashburn, both sixth graders, were recently honored as top 10 winners in “InvestWrite.” A national essay competition. They competed in the grade 6-8 division.
Madeline finished second in the nation. In addition to a trophy, she received a Toshiba laptop and an Apple iPod. As the state winner, she received an engraved plaque from the Hartselle School Board. It was presented on March 10 by her aunt, board member Jennifer Sittason.
Jesse finished in fifth place. She received a $100 gift certificate.
Madeline, the daughter of Bob and Daphne Sittason of Hartselle, enjoys music and math as well as softball and gymnastics. She plans to be a veterinarian when she grows up.
Jesse is the daughter of Drs. Eric and Nicole Mashburn. She enjoys piano, reading and playing soccer. A certified scuba diver, she is considering a career in marine biology but has not ruled out acting or even professional soccer.
The contest is sponsored in Alabama twice during the school year by the Foundation for Investor Education (FIE). InvestWrite is a component of the Stock Market Game offered by the Alabama Council on Education. who announced the winners.
Both girls played the Alabama Stock Market Game for 10 weeks, researching and buying and selling stocks. Based on their studies, they wrote essays that demonstrated their understanding of a mutual fund that would make a good investment for their college education. Financial professionals judged judged and selected the winning essays from among 619 entries in grades 6-8 nationwide.