Thirteen students from around the state have earned special recognition for writing essays about their favorite older adults.

One of the students was Stephanie Cabrera, a sixth-grader from Clanton Middle School in Clanton.

The Alabama Gerontological Society (AGS), a non-profit membership organization devoted to improving the well-being of older adults throughout Alabama, conducted an essay calendar contest open to fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. The goal of the contest is to promote positive interaction between children and senior citizens.

Students who entered the contest wrote an essay about their favorite older person. The winners will be featured in the 2009 AGS calendar and the grand prize winner earned a place on the calendar’s front cover. AGS and Alagasco have sponsored the contest for more than 20 years.

Connor Gaskin, a fifth-grader from Raymond L. Young Elementary School in Talladega, was the first place winner. Gaskin’s essay titled “My Grandma Slaughter has taught me about love, forgiving, hard-work and never giving up,” is printed in full on the inside cover of the calendar.

The front cover displays a photo of him with his Grandmother Virginia Slaughter.

Other winners included:

Sheldon Boggs, a sixth-grader from J.E. Hobbs Elementary School in Camden.

Anna Elizabeth Buck, a fourth-grader from Lake View Elementary School in McCalla.

Lyndsey Davis, a fifth-grader from Raymond L. Young Elementary School in Talladega.

Kristeonna Denish, a sixth-grader from F. S. Ervin Elementary School in Pine Hill.

Paris France, a fourth-grader from Carver Middle School in Eutaw.

Alyssa Gaston, a fourth-grader from Greystone Elementary School in Hoover.

Win Gilbert, a fifth-grader from Troy Elementary School in Troy.

Kelsey Granger, a fifth-grader from Raymond L. Young Elementary School in Talladega.

Ashley James, a fifth-grader from Eura Brown Elementary School in Gadsden.

John Paul Swim, a sixth-grader from Muscle Shoals Middle School in Muscle Shoals.

Christon Taylor, a fourth-grader from Gresham Elementary School in Birmingham.

– from staff reports