Published on May 14, 2026 10:19 am
Last Updated on May 14, 2026 10:19 am
(FROM LEFT, EHS STUDENT AUTHOR KATIE BUDDE, UNIT 40 DIRECTOR OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS LAURA SULLIVAN, AND NOON ROTARY PRESIDENT-ELECT CHRIS DEBOLT)
A new club at Effingham High School has generated a berth in a national writing competition for one of its members.
It’s a future teachers club known as “Educators Rising”. There are 27 members in the club, including junior Katie Budde, who created a children’s literature book. Katie’s book, “King of the Desert”, was entered in a competition against students from other schools early in April, and placed fourth in the state.
Katie now is headed to Portland, Oregon for a national competition June 19-23. She had the opportunity to read her book and talk about how the book came about with members of the Effingham Noon Rotary Club at their May 13 meeting.
Katie is the daughter of Brent and Jessica Budde.
