During the month of January, Stewart Heights Elementary School held an essay contest to encourage student writing.
Students wrote on a variety of topics of their own choice. Some second and third grade students wrote about the Operation Get Smart program from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, where inmates from Columbia talked with the Stewart Heights second and third grade students about how to avoid going to prison. The winners from each grade level were recognized on the morning television show where they each read their winning essay. These students also received prizes. The winners are Makalah Williams (kindergarten), Jakayla Fling (first grade), Edrionna Washington (second grade) and Uzzia Jean-Baptiste (third grade).