Aaron Cudjoe, a student at Vernon Johns Middle School in Petersburg, was honored at the Petersburg City Public Schools Board Meeting earlier this year. Aaron was one of 36 students, and the only one from the Tri-Cities, to win in the James River Chapter division of the 2008 Virginia Parent Teacher Association (PTA)’s annual Citizenship Essay Contest. This year’s theme was: Education, the Foundation of Freedom. “It’s important for students to get their ideas and their talents out there, for people to see the things that they can do,” said John Hart, president of the Petersburg Citywide PTA.