From among dozens of essays submitted by school children in Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties on the topic, "What my local newspaper means to me," seven winners have been selected. Within that seven are two overall, or first-place winners, and five honorable mentions.

Each of the two first-place winners will receive four tickets to the  7 p.m. March 20 Harlem Globetrotters game at the Holmes Center in Boone, one official Harlem Globetrotters T-shirt, one autographed souvenir Globetrotter basketball and an interview with a Harlem Globetrotter player.

Each honorable mention winner will receive one ticket to the game.

The winners:

First-place: Jacan Ward, Newland Elementary School

First-place: Miles Spell, Two Rivers Community School

Honorable Mention: Grace Hagaman

Honorable Mention: Mara Ward

Honorable Mention: Andrew Nenow

Honorable Mention: Owen Warmuth

Honorable Mention: Cassidy Hubbard

The winning essays will be published in an upcoming edition of the Watauga Democrat.