We’re not sure how many local schools entered the Ace Helping Hands campaign.

According to the Ahoskie Ace Hardware personnel, information was forwarded to some of the local schools encouraging them to apply. Hopefully, many of them took the time to do just that.

One of the schools we are sure took the time is Lawrence Academy in Merry Hill. Interim Headmaster Dr. Ed Clouse found out about the essay contest and asked one of his teachers to help choose a student to write it.

They wisely chose junior Hallie Corbett. She sat down and churned out an essay explaining the advantages for a small school like Lawrence to receive such a blessing from a major corporation.

Her writing and the follow-up  work required by Ace that was completed by Dr. Clouse, led the small Bertie County school to receive $500 for finishing second in the state of North Carolina.

On top of that, local Ace Hardware owner Jamie Johnson decided to match the corporate gift, giving Lawrence Academy $1,000 towards its painting project.

This is one of those cases where everyone did well and deserves praise for their efforts.

Dr. Clouse did a great job in pursuing the contest that he could have easily by-passed. Corbett deserves praise for her award-winning efforts in writing and Johnson and his staff should receive accolades for matching the funding.

It’s nice to see local people doing well and receiving acknowledgment for it. We’re proud to be the vessel by which all of this excellence was reported to the public.

Congratulations on a job well done to both Lawrence Academy and Ace Hardware of Ahoskie.

–         The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald