Local sixth grader Jacie Handberry has been selected to attend the 2008 Distinguished Youth of Texas Program at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas during Thanksgiving weekend, November 28-30.

The Distinguished Youth Program is designed to recognize girls who rank high academically and who are leaders in their schools and communities. The judging criteria used to select the two state titleholders included the following: Scholastic Record; Service to School & Community; Personality Projection; and Interview.

Jacie Handberry is the daughter of Randall and Deana Handberry and is eleven years old.

Selected as a candidate based on her academic achievements and community leadership, Jacie has demonstrated excellence in many endeavors.

She has been on the A Honor Roll for six years straight, won numerous UIL competitions including Oral Reading in the fourth grade and in fifth grade won first place and second place at the District meet, and she placed first in Spelling in fifth grade. She also won second place for the Red Ribbon Poster Contest in the fifth grade and first place in the Essay Contest this year.

She authored a poem, “When You Close Your Eyes”, which was published in the Blanco County News.

In order to attend the program, Jacie was required to acquire sponsors. The following business and individuals sponsored her: Sta Bilt Products, Hill Country Stop, Express Care, Blanco Valley Farms, Holmes Homes, Allied Body and Paint, Cigi’s Via 281, On the Square, Dirt Works, Car Quest, K&C Supply, Pat Bindseil, Nan Mikes, Marilyn Mikes, Harold and Francis Treber, Peggy Pepper, and Laura and CJ Kuedel.

Jacie says, “I would just like to thank everybody who helped out and I greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much for your support!”