SOUTH WHITLEY — Whitko Jr.-Sr. High School student Alayna Kreps earned a check for $100 for winning a recent essay contest.

Kreps’ essay detailed her plan to become a Marine biologist.

“Some of the things that interest me in this career are the curiosity of the creatures and the unknown that is waiting to be discovered,” she said.

Junior high students participating in Junior Achievement’s Economics for Success program have the opportunity to write about their future career dreams through an essay contest each year. The essay contest was created in partnership between Junior Achievement and the Olin B & Desta Schwab Foundation.

This project encourages students to research and thoroughly understand the career paths that interest them.