As the second month of 2018 comes to a close and the cold begins to subside, February was capped off with a week full of awards acknowledging exceptional work done in a variety of fields. These recognitions meant good news last week not only for the recipients, but also for everyone who benefits from these individuals’ great work.

• Two Mississippi writers, Billy Watkins of The Clarion Ledger and Charles Reagan Wilson of the University of Mississippi, received the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence on Saturday, the final day of the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration. The award honors writers with connections to Mississippi that have exceptional bodies of literary work, putting both Watkins and Wilson in elite company.
• Vidalia Lower Elementary School teacher Susan Mingee was named the 2018 Elementary School Teacher of the Year by the Concordia Parish School Board. Mingee’s passion for her work is one of the admirable traits making her deserving of the award, though Mingee said she teaches not for accolades, but simply because she loves her job.
• The Miss-Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation honored seven local student-athletes Thursday with scholarships at the chapter’s annual banquet: Cathedral School’s Henry Carpenter, Vidalia High School’s Zachary Nelson, Trinity Episcopal’s Dee Fleming, Adams County Christian School’s Caden Gillespie, Delta Charter’s Deavern Mays, Natchez High School’s EJ Woods and Ferriday High School’s Jerrius Scott all received awards at the banquet. These recipients are fine examples of how hard work both on the field and in the classroom pays dividends.

These recognitions were well deserved for all parties involved, and we sincerely congratulate them on their successes.