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Adrianne Farris (right) a senior at Thorsby High School and statewide-winner of the "To Kill a Mockingbird" Essay Contest had the opportunity to meet the novel's noted author Harper Lee at a book-signing event for contest winners at The University of Alabama Friday. Download a high-resolution version

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Winners of the sixth annual "To Kill a Mockingbird" Essay Contest were honored Friday, Jan. 26, with a luncheon awards ceremony and reception/book signing with noted author Harper Lee at The University of Alabama.

Forty-six high school students from throughout the state - all winners of the essay competition in their individual schools - visited UA for a luncheon at Smith Hall Gallery (in the Alabama Museum of Natural History) followed by an awards ceremony.

Adrianne Farris, a senior at Thorsby High School, was recognized as the winner of this year's statewide competition for her essay "Plights of Alabama's Youth: My Awakening to Mockingbird's Realities." As the statewide winner, Farris received $500, and $500 was also awarded to Thorsby High School.

The essay contest was created to honor "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Harper Lee's induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2001 and is sponsored by the UA Honors College with the support of the Alabama State Department of Education.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of America's best-loved novels. It captures the ambiance and conflicts of small-town life in the Deep South during the Depression. Lee, its author and a Monroeville native, is one of the most important contributors to literature of the American South, which is known and appreciated worldwide.

Alabama students in grades 9-12 are invited to submit 600-750 word essays reflecting their perceptions on how life has changed in the South from the time period depicted in the book. These changes could be positive or negative and could relate to such aspects as natural surroundings, social interactions, childhood experiences or political realities.

Submissions are accepted not only from public and private high school students but also from eligible home-schooled students. Each participating school chooses a winning entry, and a monetary prize is given to each of these winners. The statewide student winner is selected by a panel of judges from the UA Honors College.

Other sponsors of the event include the UA Office of the President, Office of Academic Affairs, Alabama Alumni Association, University Libraries, Office of Admissions and the UA Museums.

For more information, contact Lesa Shaul in the UA Honors College at 205/348-5557, lshaul@bama.ua.edu.