The five finalists in the Southeast Missourian's Newspaper in Education Young Columbus essay contest were chosen Monday. The five students now advance to a current events competition Jan. 29.

The finalists are Jonathan Anderson of L.J. Schultz School, Robin Wiegand of Jackson High School, Jennie Lukens of Cape Central High School, Crystal Rhodes of Woodland High School and Pam Cook of Fredericktown High School.

The students were selected by a panel of judges, based on essays they had written on the topic: "Do you feel the role of the family is changing for better or worse?"

The final round competition will include a combination written and oral current events exam, drawn from editions of the Southeast Missourian published during the week of Jan. 21-29.

The winner will receive an all expense-paid trip to Ireland, during the week of April 12-21. In all, 150 students from across the country will visit Dublin, Mitchelstown, Ballyhoura Country, Killarney, Tralee and Shannon during their stay.

Parade Magazine, which appears in Sunday editions of newspapers throughout the United States, has sponsored the Young Columbus program since 1956. Young Columbus affords American youths the opportunity to travel to Europe and act as junior ambassadors.

The expense of the grand-prize trip is shared by Parade Magazine and the Southeast Missourian newspaper.

NIE schools throughout the region were sent packets of information by the Southeast Missourian about the Young Columbus contest, which was open to all students in grades 7-12.

The NIE program distributes newspapers to the classrooms of schools throughout Southeast Missouri, to augment reading materials and school books used in every day studies.

Kim McDowell, NIE coordinator for the Southeast Missourian said, "the Young Columbus Program offers an opportunity for students from our area to travel abroad.

At the same time, she said, it rewards students for their skills in reading, writing and current events.

"In today's educational process, good character, independent study and knowledge of current events needs to be rewarded," McDowell said.

This is the second year the Southeast Missourian has participated in the Young Columbus program. Last year's winner, Takara Stanley of Cape Girardeau traveled to London for a week.

"We really wanted to do this again this year," said McDowell. "We were very pleased with the finalists last year, as we are again this year. These great kids deserve an opportunity like this."