Italy High School Junior, Josh Milligan, was a one of the first prize winners named in the 2008 Family Dollar Scholarship Contest this week. The contest was sponsored by the 3M Home Care Division, The Clorox Company and Kimberly-Clark Global Sales, LLC. Students, ages 15-18 years of age, were required to write an essay of 250 words or less with a the topic of “How can higher education make a powerful difference in your life?” Milligan’s dual credit English teacher urged him to enter. “This was an assignment for the class but Mrs. Price encouraged me to send it,” Josh commented.

There were 2 Grand Prize winners of $25,000.00 and 20 First Prize winners of $2,500.00. This contest was opened to students across the United States. Judges were searching for the writing that expressed a theme of creativity and had clarity and cohesiveness. Milligan’s fell under those categories and won a first place prize. He was the only student that won from Italy.

Josh’s interests lie in being a game warden or something in that field. That is what he wrote the essay about. It is still a little early but Milligan is looking at Texas A&M for higher education after graduation. “I hunt and fish and I have seen things that disturb me. I feel like I can make a difference in this field,” Milligan explained. “And, of course, English is my favorite subject.”