Risco's stars

For the 15th year in a row, students from tiny Risco School District in New Madrid County won the sweepstakes award at Southeast Missouri State University's annual History Day competition. The award goes to the school district with the most winners in the contest. Twenty-four other schools and more than 500 students competed.

Only 200 students are in the entire Risco School District. Sixty of them participated in History Day this year.

This kind of enthusiasm for success requires a teacher who inspires students -- Michael Murphy is Risco's eighth-through-12th-grade history teacher -- and a tradition of excellence. At Risco, graduates help the current students with their exhibits.

In 20 categories of competition, 18 individual students or groups from Risco won prizes. The Risco Tigers basketball team only compiled a 14-11 record this year, but the players have good role models for success.