An imaginary correspondence between famous inventors Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison may earn Smithsburg Middle School student Devin Burns national recognition.
Burns is the only Washington County student who is a national award contender in the Parent Teacher Association's award program Reflections.
He was honored by the Washington County Council of PTAs on Thursday, along with about 50 local students.
"I was kind of surprised," said Burns, 13.
In the letters, Franklin, who discovered electricity, tried to share credit for Edison's light bulb invention.
The PTA gives annual awards to the best entries for literature, photography, music and visual arts.
"I think it's a great opportunity for the kids of Washington County to have another place to express their talents," said Joe Kraft, president of the PTA at Emma K. Doub.
Kindergartner Ashlin Lang won a first-place prize for photography. His theme was trains.
As a reward, his parents Michele and Peter Lang got Ashlin a camera. He clutched it Thursday night, along with a photo album given to him by the PTA.
