Orangefield Junior High Students Payton Wrinkle, 7th grader, and Gracie Cross, 6th grader, were honored as finalists at the Southeast Texas’ Better Business Bureau’s Laws of Life essay contest. This year there were over 4,000 entries with 22 area schools participating in the program. Sixteen finalists were chosen. Payton Wrinkle’s essay was selected as the first place winner in the 7th grade category. Payton wrote about life lessons learned from his younger sister ,Ella. Gracie Cross’s essay earned second place in the sixth grade category. Gracie honored the memory of her late father, Todd Cross, in her essay. Wrinkle received $100, gift cards from area businesses, a candy bouquet, t-shirt,and a crystal plaque. Gracie Cross received $75, gift cards from area businesses, a candy bouquet, t-shirt,and a crystal plaque. Danielle Sheppard is Gracie’s Language Arts teacher and Heggie Coulter is Payton’s teacher. The BBB designed the Laws of Life contest as a future workforce program aimed at developing today’s student so they become the ethical, trustworthy, and responsible members of tomorrow’s workforce.

Deena Vanpelt, principal, Gracie Cross, Payton Wrinkle, Rea Wrinkle, assistant principal