MEXICO – The Mexico Historical Society has given a College Book Award of $500 each for a boy and a girl attending college this fall at a recent board of directors meeting, said Connie Tutlis, society president.

The winners are Emily K. Hornsby, who plans to major in communications as a photojournalist, and Stephen W. Penney, who plans to major in environmental science.

“Books are a major expense for college students,” said Tutlis. “This money will help the students pay for books, while other scholarships they may receive have to go toward other expenses.”

“Each of the applicants had to write a 200-word essay on how history is important to a citizen’s adult life as well as provide information on their school experience,” said Tutlis.

Noting that it is important to learn from events in history, Hornsby said, “It is also important to learn from history how to deal with things you don’t care for or things you don’t agree with.”

Penney said, “History isn’t just about who came into power and either destroyed or founded a country. It is anything from our past that we have the choice and opportunity to make better.”

Speaking about one’s own personal history growing up, Penney added, “When we become adults, we can choose to avoid the issues of our childhood and create better, stronger and healthier homes for our families.

That would be bettering history and passing on a greater hope for the future.”

The two recipients of the $500 College Book Award have been invited to the May 28 meeting of the Mexico Historical Society to read their essays.