An attentive audience listened Tuesday night as eighth-grade essay winner Taylor Nelms discussed the woman he most admired, anthropologist Ruth Benedict.

In front of an audience of about 40, the young man animatedly focused on Benedict’s achievements in the field of anthropology and the influence she provided for women and young men like himself.

For three years the Carbondale branch of the American Association of University Women has sponsored an essay contest for local middle schools in recognition of Women’s History Month in March. Anna Jackson, co-president of AAUW, beamed with great admiration as she introduced the six local schoolchildren who read their essays Tuesday.

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These kids are great writers, she said. Taylor is an exceptional author and has won contests in the past.

This month’s topic was The Woman in History I Most Admire. Of the 30 entries, three from seventh-graders and three from eighth-graders were read for AAUW members at the Faculty House, 1000 S. Elizabeth St.

Lelia Marvin, membership vice president of AAUW, said the essay contest provided a positive opportunity for young people to explore the accomplishments of women throughout history.

It focuses on the importance of women in history, she said. It gives the students a subject to research and allows the winners publicity.

The 69-member AAUW of Carbondale is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and the essay contest was just one of the organization’s featured events. Although this is a landmark year for the Carbondale branch, the group’s primary focus remains promoting the values of the national AAUW.

Since its inception in 1881, the national AAUW has rallied for women’s suffrage, the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Rights Amendment and has also played a key role in the passage of the Title IX measure prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded college athletic programs.

The most current political action the Carbondale AAUW has taken is opposing House Bill 1909. The bill, introduced last month, seeks to abolish affirmative action. Members wrote letters to Congressman Jerry Costello, D-Ill., requesting he vote against the bill.

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Martha Ellert, co-president of the Carbondale AAUW said she received a return letter from Costello stating he is working on the group’s behalf.

He reassured us that he would continue to help women, she said. I suppose you could take that any way you want.

By promoting events such as its Tuesday night essay reading, the group also encourages young people to value women’s roles in society.

We promote equity of women, education and self-development over the life span, positive societal change, said Ellert, and we will continue to do so.