Scholarships available for competition essays

Kansas high school seniors are eligible to compete for $25,000 in college scholarships through an essay contest that focuses on competition.

Birch Telecom, of Kansas City, Mo., is sponsoring the essay contest among seniors in 12 states, including Kansas.

Applicants must submit an essay about the value of competition in “the American economy, the future or whatever strikes them as interesting” by March 31, 2004.

The program is limited to high school seniors who will enroll full time at a college or university in fall 2004.

For more information, including a copy of the application, visit www.birch.com/scholarship.

Red Cross honors volunteers at banquet

The Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross recently honored several residents for their service to the community.

At the group’s 87th annual banquet at the Lawrence Holidome, Margaret Shirk was honored with the Exceptional Volunteer Service Award for her 27 years of commitment to Red Cross. Mark May, Red Cross disaster coordinator, was honored for his volunteer service after the tornado that struck Lawrence in May.

For more information about the American Red Cross, call 843-3550 or visit douglascountyks.redcross.org.

Museum displays student photography

Photographs taken by students at Lawrence High School are on display at the Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

The photos come from students enrolled in a photography class at the school.

The display continues through Feb. 15.