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These are biographies of the
state-level winners (listed
by state) in the thirteenth
annual National Peace Essay Contest sponsored by the United
States Institute of Peace. These state-level winners have
received a $1,000 college scholarship, and will compete for
national awards of up to $10,000.
More than 3,000 students across the
United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories,
and American high schools overseas participated in this
year's contest, writing essays about the United States'
response to the changing nature of international
conflict.
All of the winners have been invited
to represent their states in a special program for
state-level winners of the Institute's essay contest in
Washington, DC, June 17-22.
You can follow the students on their
unique learning adventure in Washington D.C. by checking
this web
site for daily
updates.
Please click here
for more information about the National Peace Essay
Contest.
Alabama-Kentucky
| Louisiana-Oklahoma
| Oregon-Wyoming
 Louisiana
Cambrian Liu
Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Baton Rouge, LA
Coordinator: Ms. Shemda Richard
[bio not available]
 Maryland
Derek Phillips
Watkins Mill High School
Gaithersburg, MD
Coordinator: Mr. Daryl Schultz
Derek is a Senior at Watkins Mill high School. He has been
active on the Quizmaster academic team and is an Eagle
Scout. Derek enjoys writing and has had an article on
environmental issues published in a local paper. Derek also
like to work with computers and enjoys sailing on the
Chesapeake Bay. He will enter the University of Maryland at
College Park this fall and plans to study computer
engineering.
 Massachusetts
Randall Souza
Mt Greylock Regional High School
Williamstown, MA
Coordinator: Dr. Martha L. Dailey
Randy will be a senior next year at Mount Greylock Regional
High school where his current academic interests are
classics, history, and chemistry. He is a member of the
cross-country ski team, the Junior Classical League, the
National Honor Society, and Future Problem Solvers (his FPS
team won the 2000 International Competition earlier this
year). Randy also enjoys playing jazz piano, reading, and
playing ping-pong.
 Michigan
Rebecca Parks
Cass Technical High School
Detroit, MI
Coordinator: Ms. Deborah Thompson
Rebecca is a graduate of Cass Technical High School in
Detroit, MI. She was parliamentarian of her senior class, a
member of the National Honor Society, and active in many
school activities. Rebecca enjoys horseback riding, reading,
and attending indie rock concerts in her spare time. This
summer she will be working on a farm as a counselor at a day
camp. In the fall, Rebecca will attend the University of
Michigan.
 Minnesota
Jewel Gausman
Anoka High School
Elk River, MN
Coordinator: Mr. Merle Miller
[bio not available]
 Mississippi
William A. Philipp
Madison Central High School
Madison, MS
Coordinator: Ms. Susan Shivers
[bio not available]
 Missouri
Peter Breen
Crossroads School
St. Louis, MO
Coordinator: Mr. Thomas F. Walsh
Peter, currently finishing his junior year, attends
Crossroads School in St. Louis. His favorite subject in
school is history, specificially art history and military
history. He plans to major in history in college after
graduating in 2001. Peter is a member of a handbell choir,
works for the St. Louis County Library, and enjoys reading,
computer gaming, and can probably be found with headphones
on, listening to some type of music.
 Montana
Jeffrey Levine
C.M. Russell High School
Great Falls, MT
Coordinator: Mr. Charles Rossell
Jeff has been actively involved with his Speech and Debate
team of which he was vice president this past year. In
addition to Lincoln-Douglas and Policy debate, he has
participated in Model United Nations and Youth Legislature.
Jeff's Academic Bowl team won the Great Falls competition
this year; unfortunately, his cross country team did not do
as well. Jeff enjoys reading, playing guitar and listening
to puck rock music. He plans to attend the University of
Montana in the fall. Eventually Jeff would like to teach
literature at the university level.
 Nebraska
Molly Reagan
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Omaha, NE
Coordinator: Ms. Laura McKee Hickman
Molly is 18 years old. She recently graduated from
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls Catholic
preparatory school in Omaha, Nebraska. In the fall, she will
be attending Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, to
study history. Keenly interested in World War I, she has
pursued this interest through the National History Day
program. Molly is also active in Student Democrats, student
government, varsity tennis, the Nebraska Council of Youth,
theater, speech, Academic Decathlon, and mock trial. She is
an anglophile and loves listening to her short-wave
radio.
 Nevada
Shauna McIver
Durando High School
Las Vegas, NV
Coordinator: Ms. Debra Klosowski King
Shauna is a recent graduate of Durango high school. She is
actively involved in track and cross country and has been
the cross country captain for the past two years. She has
also been involved in drama and is a reporter and copyeditor
for her school newspaper. Shauna is the founder and
president of the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes
(FCA) club in Nevada. Participating in her church community
and youth fellowship are also important to her. Shauna plans
to attend Biola University in California and participate in
the Honors program there. She wants to major in
Communication Disorders and become a speech pathologist for
elementary children. Shauna also enjoys skiing, swimming,
and playing soccer.
New
Hampshire
Julia E. Tobias
Phillips Exeter Academy
Exeter, NH
Coordinator: Mr. Andrew Hertig
[bio not available]
 New
Jersey
Devon Pym
Pope John XXIII High School
Sparta, NJ
Coordinator: Ms. Theresa Losiewicz
Devon is an honor student form Pope John XXIII High School
in Sparta, New Jersey. He is a member of the school's award
winning select chorus and has participated in all school
musical productions. He is captain of the varsity swim team
and editor of the yearbook. He played varsity tennis and
helped to secure the county championship. Devon is a peer
facilitator and active leader in Christian youth ministry.
In addition, he is a certified private pilot and will be
attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study
aeronautical science after graduation.
 New
Mexico
Rob Shafer
Carrizozo High School
Carrizozo, NM
Coordinator: Ms. Sarah Ball
Rob lives in a very rural area of south central New Mexico.
He is very active in the FFA (an ag.-based leadership
organization) as a state Vice President and has traveled
across the state speaking to members of his organization in
this capacity. In his spare time, Rob likes to play the
piano, ski, and participate in his local Christian youth
group activities. Rob is going to attend Colorado State
University majoring in Animal Science. Recently he was in
Washington for the Senate Youth program and can't wait to
return and meet everybody.
New
York
Sogol Somekh
John L. Miller Great Neck North High School
Great Neck, NY
Coordinator: Dr. Elaine Weiss
[bio not available]
 North
Carolina
Allison Zbicz
William G. Enloe High School
Raleigh, NC
Coordinator: Ms. Vinetta Bell
Allison is a junior at William G. Enloe High School in
Raleigh, N.C. where she is currently enrolled in four
Advanced Placement Classes. She enjoys piano and voice
lessons after school and sings in her school chorus and
church choir. She is a member of the school Science Club,
National Honor Society and Key Club. The subjects she is
most interested in are chemistry and history. Upon
graduating, Allison would either like to major in chemistry
or foreign policy and would eventually like to enter law
school.
 North
Dakota
Aaron Pinnick
Minot High School
Minot, ND
Coordinator: Mr. Allan Alvstad
[bio not available]
 Ohio
Mark Webb
School for Creative and Performing Arts
Cincinnati, OH
Coordinator: Ms. Sara Berry
[bio not available]
 Oklahoma
Emily Newman
Heritage Hall School
Oklahoma City, OK
Coordinator: Dr. David Crynes
Emily just graduated from Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City.
She has participated in competitive swimming since she was
ten and has made the varsity team all four years of high
school. This year she was selected for the all-state swim
team. Emily has also been active in extemporaneous speaking
with the Debate Team and National Forensic League. She loves
to read, particularly the New York Times. In the fall, Emily
plans to begin a course of study majoring in International
Relations at Carleton College.
Alabama-Kentucky
| Louisiana-Oklahoma
| Oregon-Wyoming
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