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Laib awarded first place at N.D. Know Your State contest

By Staff | May 27, 2009

Wolford senior Jessica Laib earned first place at the Know Your State Contest held at the University of Mary south of Bismarck,earlier this month.

Laib, who is the daughter of Elliot and Betty Laib, received a $1,000 scholarship, a pictorial book of North Dakota and $100 awarded to her school, in her name, to purchase N.D. history books.

Laib and fellow senior Tommy Dunn wrote essays and scored the highest in Pierce County, qualifying them for the competition open to juniors and seniors.

On May 11, Laib wrote about her top three priorities if she were in the North Dakota Legislature. She said her priorities were getting more people to come to North Dakota, education, and safer sexual relationships.

“I thought I did my best since I wrote six pages stating what I believed for the essay and hoped that it was good enough,” Laib said. “During the awards banquet, I was really shocked when they weren’t calling my name for people who didn’t place for 4th, 3rd, and 2nd place. When I heard that I placed first, it was unbelievable and I was glad that I got to take part in such a contest.”

Several state officials attended the awards banquet, including Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem; Tax Commissioner Cory Fong; and North Dakota’s Secretary of State, Alvin Jaeger.

The Know Your State Contest was established over 50 years ago because the Masonic Foundation and UND wanted to get students to learn about North Dakota’s history, geography, politics, economy, and current events.