Clark writes ticket to Austin state finals

Jamie and Jacob Clark

Jacob Clark, 13-year-old eighth grade student at Jasper Junior High School, was a state finalist in the Do the 'Write' Thing Challenge essay contest.

The contest was open to seventh and eighth grades all over the nation. English teacher Lynn Betz asked her students to write the essay for a project for the competition.

The essay asked students to explain how violence has affected their lives, what are the causes and how they can prevent violence. Out of 50,000 essays sent in, 26,000 from Texas, Clark made it to state finals.

Clark went to Austin in June for a paid five-day trip with his family and teacher. He toured the capital and Bob Bullet museum.

Clark brainstormed ideas on how to stop violence with others, which will help the government in what to do to prevent violence.

'Do the right thing day' is June 25, 2007.