SOLANA BEACH — St. James Academy announced that for the second year in a row, one of their students has won the University of San Diego Character Matters Essay Contest.
Rex Hammock, in eighth grade at the academy, took first prize in the middle-school division. Last year, St. James’ student Patrice Nguyen won the elementary division. The Character Matters essay contest provides a platform for insightful classroom discussion and students’ personal reflections on their experiences that foster one or more of USD’s Character Development Center’s 10 Badges of Character–respect, responsibility, compassion, courage, perseverance, trust, honesty, gratitude, self-discipline, and citizenship. This essay contest offers students an opportunity for conscious reflection and writing about these character traits.
Hammock was the recipient of $125 check and a plaque for his winning essay.

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