It was a first and third place finish for Mexico students Rebecca Stanford and Abbey Hamm after they wrote original music in a statewide contest.

Rebecca Stanford is an 8th grade student at St. Brendan Catholic School and took first place in the contest for writing a song named Hope. Stanford says she wrote the tune and the lyrics to the song. “I even learned how to play the drums for this song. I had some help from sister Annabelle, who is a junior at the Mexico High School. She played the guitar and sang harmony.” Stanford said it took her a couple of months to compose the song and recorded it at Mexico Music.

Stanford was awarded a cash prize of $1,000 and St. Brendan was awarded $1,200. Ted Braucker, Director of Music at St. Brendan says he is still making plans for the money and is very proud of his student. Rebecca is the daughter of Kelly and Wayne Stanford of Mexico.

Another eighth grade student from Mexico took home a cash prize in the song writing contest.

Abbey Hamm attends the Mexico Middle School and placed third in the University of Missouri’s Creating Original Music Project for her original song “Finally Found You.” She received $500 and as part of her prize the Mexico Middle School also received $750 for its music programs. Abbey says everybody writes about love. “It’s about falling in love. I recorded and submitted the song in late January and found out I won in February.

Abbey has played the ukulele since elementary school. Mexico Middle School Choir Director Julie Pappas says the school will use their portion of the money to possibly buy new songs and sheet music and take students to activities. Abbey is the daughter of Justin and Mel Hamm of Mexico.