4th grade students at the World Language Academy have swept the Essay Contest, "Georgia Grown - A Better Choice", sponsored by the Hall County Cooperative Extension and the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. 

Students were to explain why locally grown or Georgia grown agricultural products are a better choice for their families, for farmers, for the state, and for the environment.  The students competed in a category that included all 4th through 8th graders in Hall County, Gainesville City, and all area private and Christian schools.  First place winner, MacKenzie Peterson, and fifth place winner, Michaela Stubbs, both wrote about Vidalia onions.  Second place went to Noah Miratsky for his work on pecans.  Since the contest, he has become determined to plant his own pecan trees.  Third place winner, Ben Perry, chose to write about peanuts since he was nicknamed "Peanut".  Fourth place winner, Stephanie Fox, wrote an essay that would have any reader drooling for a Georgia peach.  The students are in Dr. Margaret Hanson's writing classes, where she used the contest as an avenue to practice realistic persuasive writing.  Students were recognized by Superintendent Will Schofield and awarded certificates at the 2009 Hall County Agribusiness Breakfast at the East Hall Community Center, April 22nd.