Haxtun's Jeorjia Stroyek placed first in the Colorado Association for Family and Communication Education's essay contest. Her essay, titled Fairness, won first place on the local level, advancing her to the State competition held in Colorado Springs in early July.

Stroyek first wrote her essay as part of an annual contest sponsored by the Jolley Dozen group. She placed first in her fourth grade class in Haxtun, which allowed her essay to advance to the State contest this summer. Each year the Jolley Dozen group, from Holyoke, sponsors the essay contest at Haxtun and Holyoke schools. In addition to first, second and third place prizes for top essays, each student receives a book donated by the local group.

As the first place winner at the State level, Stroyek received an award in addition to a bag filled with 10 one dollar coins. Her essay will now advance to the National level.

Stroyek will be a fifth grader at Haxtun Schools this fall. She is the daughter of Jeff and Joleen Stroyek, Haxtun.

Below is Stroyek's first place essay:

Fairness

By Jeorjia Stroyek

Fairness means a lot to me. My definition of fairness is letting other people join games, following the rules, not cheating and not being excluded. Being excluded is a big thing in my life. It separated one of me and my friends and now we are never as close as we were. Cheating isn't fun either. When someone cheats in any game, I don't want to play anymore. Like when you play "heads up, seven up" and someone peaks. It just ruins the whole round. Same thing with fairness. You see, I like to sing. Singing is my passion. You can't just copy off someone else's song. I mean you could, but it wouldn't be fair. Right? Because they took time and effort to make that song. I also like to play volleyball. If someone served from up close and everyone else had to serve from the back line. Well, that isn't fair either. Nothing is fair in life. People just roll with it. If you saw your friend give another friend a piece of gum, and then you asked for one. Eventually your friend would have no gum, because everyone asked. She was being fair. But if your friend gave gum to you and not your other friend, that's not fair is it? I'll admit it, I have done most of these things. And now regret those things. And this is why I think fairness, is important.