Students at Washington Jesuit Academy Write to Win

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Young minds across the city are thinking about keeping kids out of trouble or contemplating the less fortunate.

"I live near Union Station and I feel like in this area and on 8th Street, there's a lot of homeless people," said Jordan Burns, an 8th grader.

Students at Washington Jesuit Academy are writing essays on community service for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
"An essay that would say how you could help, why would you help, and who you would help," said Jeffrey McMorris, a 7th grader at the Academy.

In the first few paragraphs of his essay, 8th grader Amari Locket wrote, "I have two grandmothers at the center of my universe...This makes me want to help other elderly with their homes because it hurts me when they need something and they cannot do it themselves."

DC middle and high school students are eligible to enter the essay contest. The winning writers get three tickets to sit near President-Elect Barack Obama at his Inaugural Parade.

"It's kind of amazing. Maybe gets you over excited a little bit when you think about it," said Lockett. "He's a good person to look up to, and it makes you feel something when you see him."

The students at the all-boys Jesuit Academy started brainstorming ideas for their essays this week. However, community service is not a new subject for them.

"We've done a number of different projects here at the school, from simple things like picking up trash to making cupcakes for the elderly," said Joe Powers, the school's headmaster.

Jeffrey McMorris and most of the other 6th through 8th graders at the Academy hope to be in the huge crowds on Inauguration Day. But McMorris knows what will happen if he wins.

"I'd go home screaming and tell my Mom. We'd both be happy," said the 7th grader.

The deadline for submissions is Sunday, January 11th at 11:59 p.m. DC parents and guardians can also submit essays for kids in DC middle and high schools. The 500-word essays should be sent to www.pic2009.org/dcstudentessay.