Elizabeth Buscher, first prize winner in Historic Shepherdstown Story Writing Contest, and Mallory Snyder, second prize winner, join Historic Shepherdstown President John Griffith at the contest awards ceremony Jan. 22.  Third prize winner Evanthea Hammer was at a science fair and unable to attend.

On Jan. 22, the Historic Shepherdstown Museum awarded prizes to the winners of the Museum’s Story Writing Contest in a ceremony at the Entler Hotel.

First Prize went to Elizabeth Buscher, an 8th grader at Morgan Academy; second to Mallory Snyder, a 6th grader at Shepherdstown Middle School; and third to Evanthea Hammer, an 8th grader at Morgan Academy.

The students had submitted stories on the topic, “Shepherdstown in the 1860s,” along with 27 other students from local schools.A panel of judges made the selections.

“These students did a wonderful job on a topic that required some real research and imaginative writing,” said John Griffith, President of Historic Shepherdstown, in a press release.”We were very pleased to reward their efforts.”

Along with monetary prizes of $150, $75 and $50, the students received certificates and copies of “See Shepherdstown III,” which tells the town’s story in text and pictures.

Teachers Bernadine Somers, Morgan Academy, and Stephanie Unger, Shepherdstown Middle School, were also recognized at the ceremony for their support of their students.Griffith noted that Historic Shepherdstown was grateful to all the teachers and parents who encouraged the students to participate and to all the students who took the time to write them.