The Patagonia Regional Times announced the winners of the PRT 2019 essay and photography contests on Nov 30 at an awards ceremony and 10th anniversary celebration of the PRT held at the Patagonia Creative Arts Center. The contests, which were open to local students in sixth–twelfth grades, drew 48 photo entries and 84 essay entries.
The winners of the photo contest are Dixie Meier, first place; Cole Hubbell, second place; Jesse Phelps, Sage Beal, Heidi Nevins, honorable mention. The middle school essay winners are Dixie Meier, first place; Hailey Mihai and Alexis De La Ossa, tied for second place; Liam Morgan, Rylee Rivers, honorable mention.
The high school essay winners are Nicholas Botz, first place; Arriana Ochoa, second place; Chesed Chap, Nicholas Mentone, honorable mention.
The theme of the essays and photos was community and hometown pride. The quality and the number of the entries was possible due to the support and efforts of Elgin teacher Michelle Sebert and PUHS teacher Journee Hayes. The contest was a collaboration between the PRT, Borderlands Restoration Network and the Patagonia Creative Arts Center.
“Softball in the Sunset Shaded Grass” taken by Dixie Meier, a seventh grade student at the Elgin School, won first place in the PRT Photography contest.
Meier wrote, “I took my photo on a Wednesday in beautiful Southern Arizona when the sun was just setting. This photo shows a lot because I love being outside in the grass, watching the sunset and playing my favorite sport, softball.”
Cole Hubbell, of Elgin School, won second place in the contest for his photo, “Ranching.”
