The prizes at the Timmy Horton High School Bass Anglers Challenge 2013 on Pickwick Lake May 18 are not limited to the students with the heaviest catch. Student-anglers can also compete for a $500 prize that will go to the competitor who writes the winning essay about conservation or fishing.
Horton, the veteran Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series pro, said the essay contest encourages students to put their love of the outdoors in writing.
“Fishing and conservation have had a big influence on my life,” he said. “I want to see what the kids in the tournament have to say about how they have influenced them.”
The tournament, which will be staged out of the Rose Trail Park boat ramp west of Cherokee, offers $20,000 in college scholarships. Students will compete in two divisions, grades 7-9 and 10-12.
To submit an essay, students must be in grades 7-12 at a public, private or home school in Alabama; fish the Timmy Horton High School Challenge; attach proof of a 3.0 GPA or higher; attach three letters of reference from their fishing coach, a current teacher and a community leader; and attach proof of at least 5 hours of community service.
Students must choose one of the following topics for their essay:
> What role have Alabama fisheries played in you becoming the conservation-oriented person you are today?
> How has participation in Alabama high school tournament fishing shaped you as an individual?
> How has Alabama high school fishing contributed to your high school academic success?
Entry is free for both the tournament and the essay contest.
For more details about the event, contact the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau at (256) 383-0783 or (800) 344-0783. You can also send an email to colberttourism@comcast.net or visit www.FishPickwickLake.com.
Essays should be mailed to Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, P.O. Box 740425, Tuscumbia, AL 35674.
