AUGUSTA – The Maine Space Grant Consortium, NASA in Maine, has announced the four winners of its statewide sixth-grade student essay contest.

The pupils won the contest with their essays about Mars and will be the recipients of an all-expense paid trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala.

The winners are as follows:

Violet White, daughter of John and Paula White, Athens Elementary School; Easton Morang, son of Keith and Kelly Morang, Winthrop Middle School; Sage Dyer, son of Skip and Laura Dyer, Ellsworth Middle School; and Logan Nee, son of Shannon and Elizabeth Nee, Cornish Elementary School.

An award ceremony will be held at the Maine State House, Hall of Flags, at 2 p.m. March 8.

The contest was open to all sixth-grade pupils in the state. Contestants were encouraged to use both the Maine Space Grant Consortium Web site, www.msgc.org, as well as the national NASA Web site, www.nasa.gov, as resources for their essays. Entries were judged on the topic chosen, the quality of research, creative thinking, organization of essay, and style requirements.

More information about the Maine Space Grant Consortium and its programs is available by visiting www.msgc.org or calling (877) 397-7223.