Academy Clothing Mart and a P.A.L.S. volunteer nurse were among women chosen as subjects for prize winning essays by school students.

Of 50 entries submitted by primary and secondary students, six received prizes for their entries in an essay competition organised by the Suffragist Anniversary Committee.

The prize giving at Cathedral Hall was one of several events over the past two weeks to mark the Suffragists' 50th anniversary in Bermuda.

Competitors were asked to write about a Bermudian woman they felt made a special contribution to the growth of Bermuda's community life.

First place in the primary division was awarded to 10-year-old Port Royal Primary student Joshua Simons, who wrote his essay on how P.A.L.S. volunteer nurse Mrs. Josie Wright nursed his grandmother through terminal cancer.

"Josie Wright was a wonderful nurse and friend to my Nana while she was dying of colon cancer. She would stay and comfort you as long as you needed her,'' he wrote.

"I believe it takes someone very strong to help people like my Nana while they're going through so much pain. It was very hard to watch my Nana in so much pain when she was always there for me when I was hurt. She always made me feel better, but I just couldn't help her back.

"But as soon as Mrs. Wright came around she would feel a sense of comfort and hope. My Mom and I thanked God for people like her.'' In the secondary division, Rebecca Burville, 14, who attends the Bermuda High School for Girls, received first prize for her essay on Mrs. Hilda Aitken, the first woman to be elected to Parliament in Bermuda. Both received $25 gift vouchers from the Bookmart and the Stationery Store.

Runners up in the primary division were Cindy Hooper, 12, from St. George's Preparatory, and Anne Marwick, 11, from Port Royal Primary.

In the secondary division, Julie Hoerrmann, 15, from Whitney Institute, was "highly commended,'' and Keisha Pitt, 15, from the Bermuda High School for Girls, was awarded an "honourable mention.'' "We wanted young people to become involved with their cultural history and become more familiar with the achievements of local women,'' said Mrs. Olga Scott, competition organiser and Chairman of the Schools' Committee.

"By actually going and talking to these women, young people are able to relive the history they are taught at school about suffragists. It is important for them to learn that if you struggle, your efforts will be rewarded,'' she said.

Judges Mrs. Scott, Dr. Norma Hendrickson and Miss Freda Roderick said they were impressed by the standard of the entries, in particular those of the primary division entrants.

"We especially liked Joshua's essay because he writes from the heart. The strength and comfort that Mrs. Wright brought his family was clearly very important to him. We thought his writing was inspirational,'' said Mrs. Scott.

"Rebecca wrote in a very focused way. Her essay was cohesive and we thought she encapsulated Mrs. Aitken's life well.'' PRIZE WINNERS -- From left, Anne Marwick, Keisha Pitt, Joshua Simons, Rebecca Burville and Cindy Hooper received prizes for their essays in a competition organised by the Suffragists Anniversary Committee.