Girl's essay nets praise from First Lady

[The Straight Story]

Lindsay Hull's essay nets praise from First Lady

San Pedro, AZ

Benson High School junior Lindsay Hull said she was amazed and honored to receive a signed letter from First Lady Michelle Obama recently, congratulating her on an award-winning essay about Martin Luther King Jr.

Hull wrote the essay last spring, and won $50 for it, but she said she never thought it would get even more attention.

Since then, St. David resident Naomi Comeau said she found the essay to be moving, and being a former member of the NAACP, she sent the essay and photo of Hull that was printed in the April 8 edition of the San Pedro Valley News-Sun to Clayborn Carson, an African-American professor of history at Stanford University and director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute.

...

Hull's essay, which focused on fear being the ultimate cause of hatred, prejudice and violence, didn't stop with Carson. It soon made its way to the White House, where First Lady Michelle Obama was also moved.

The letter signed by Obama says, "I wanted to write a special note of congratulations on your impressive achievement. Your success is a testament to your dedication and commitment, and you have no doubt inspired others through your accomplishments. Your hard work has truly paid off, and I hope that this recognition spurs you to continue to lead by example for those around you. I wish you the very best in your future, and again, congratulations."

http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2009/08/23/news/news01.txt

[lapfog_1]

1. Very good story...

and since I live in Benson / St. David, and I am volunteering to tutor at Benson schools this year (middle school, not high school), I might very well run into Ms. Hull and tell her "great job" myself.