|
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
 Oregon
Megan Corrarino
Sunset High School
Beaverton, OR
Coordinator: Mr. Amit Kobrowski
Megan is a sophomore at Sunset High School in Beaverton, OR.
Her passion is writing, but she also enjoys reading, music,
and playing tennis. Megan is on the varsity tennis team and
has played tennis for four years. She has studied piano for
eight years and, until recently, was a volunteer piano
player at a local nursing home. Megan's scholastic
activities include Metro Congress, a class designed to give
students a forum to discuss current events, Model United
Nations, and peer tutoring. Megan is keenly interested in
politics and current events.
 Overseas
Schools
Erin Boeke Burke
Kwassui High School
Nagasaki, Japan
Coordinator: Ms. Lee Boeke Burke
Erin is a 17 year old from Neenah, WI, currently an exchange
student in Nagasaki, Japan. Because her host father is a
Buddhist priest, she lives in a temple. This is especially
fascinating for her because her personal beliefs lie closest
to Buddhism and Taosim. Homeschooled since the 7th grade,
Erin just graduated from Clonlara School Home-Based
Education Program in Michigan, and will start at Macalester
College this fall. In her free time, Erin's favorite
activity is dancing, from ballroom to ballet to Japanese
traditional. Other loves include photography, camping,
poetry, teaching gymnastics, and having long discussions in
coffee shops.
 Pennsylvania
Sarah Godwin
Strath Haven High School
Swarthmore, PA
Coordinator: Ms. Denise Fulvio
[bio not available]
 South
Carolina
Sarah McKeown
Irmo High School
Columbia, SC
Coordinator: Ms. Jan P. McCarthy
Sarah is involved in many different school activities, but
most of her time is spent as a student athletic trainer. She
is a member of various clubs, including Beta and the
National Honor Society. Sarah enjoys playing the piano and
has studied the piano for 11 years. She participates in
Salkehatchie Summer Service, a Methodist work camp that
refurbishes houses for the less fortunate. In the fall she
plans to attend Duke University possibly majoring in
religion or neuroscience.
 South
Dakota
David Redlinger
Watertown Senior High School
Watertown, SD
Coordinator: Ms. Shelley Rau Gauer
David's extra curricular activities at Watertown Senior High
School (WHS) include serving as President of the National
Forensics League chapter, in conjunction with his
involvement in Lincoln-Douglas debate, foreign Extemp, and
Student Congress. He also serves as the vice-president of
the local chapter for the International Thespian Society,
and commits to lighting design for both WHS and community
theater. David's organizational involvement includes WHS
Peer Helpers, National Honor Society, and German National
Honor Society. He will be attending the Carlson School of
Management at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and
plans on studying International Business.
Tennessee
Manda Curry
Hendersonville High School
Hendersonville, TN
Coordinator: Ms. Glenda Stephens
[bio not available]
 Texas
Thomas Tsai
William P. Clements High School
Sugar Land, TX
Coordinator: Ms. Mary Harrison
[bio not available]
 U.S.
Territories
Sara Loubriel-Carrion
Academia Perpetuo Socorro
San Juan, PR
Coordinators: Ms. Yvonne Benn & Ms. Linda Arroyo
[bio not available]
 Utah
Tracy Kell
Spanish Fork High School
Woodland Hills, UT
Coordinator: Mr. Don Jones
Tracy is from Woodland Hills, Utah. She is eighteen years
old, and a senior at Spanish Fork High School. She loves to
kickbox, swim, read, and play the guitar. As for
extracurricular activities, Tracy is the student president
of the PTA, the vice-president of the Young Republicans, and
member of the National Honors Society and Business Leaders
of Tomorrow. She is in the swing club, bowling club, and
also member of the Thoreau Society. After school Tracy
tutors illiterate adults for a program called Project Read
and volunteers at a crisis nursery. She loves being engaged
in personal service and leadership activities.
 Vermont
Kali Foxman
Champlain Valley Union High School
Williston, VT
Coordinator: Mr. William Mares
Kali loves traveling, especially to foreign countries,
because she likes to experience new things and be immersed
in a culture different from her own. In addition to
traveling, art and kayaking are two of her favorite
activities. Kali enjoys sculpture and oil painting, writing,
and cross-country skiing. Her high school activities include
the National Honor Society, Senior Class Council, Yearbook,
and Jewish youth group. Her favorite subjects are English
and French. This fall, Kali would like to pursue a course of
study including journalism, government, and international
relations at the University of Richmond.
 Virginia
Christina Stavridis
West Potomac High School
Alexandria, VA
Coordinator: Ms. Susan Kenny
Christina is a rising sophomore at West Potomac High School.
She enjoys playing tennis, soccer, and swimming
competitively. This year she was on the varsity tennis team
and the JV soccer team. When Christina finishes high school,
she hopes to go to college at either the University of
Virginia or the University of California at Los Angeles. She
would like to study law and then perhaps go on to be an
entertainment/media lawyer. This summer she plans to work at
her neighborhood pool and have fun with friends.
 Washington
Kenji Crosland
Chimacum High School
Port Hadlock, WA
Coordinator: Ms. Maggie Romine
Kenji is a recent graduate of both Chimacum High School and
Olympic College, receiving an AA degree as well as a high
school diploma. As a pianist, he has performed in several
recitals including one where he was the feature performer.
He is a frequent participant at the local community theater
and has acted in the television show "Bill Nye the Science
Guy," the recent movie, "Snow Falling on Cedars," and did a
voice-over of an American toy commercial in Japanese.
Writing, however, is his greatest passion. Currently, he is
working on his first novel which he plans to finish by the
end of the year. Kenji is a member of the All-State Academic
Team, salutatorian, 7th place national winner in the Voice
of Democracy Essay contest, and holds a Black Belt in Tae
Kwon Do. Fluent in French as well as Japanese, he plans to
enroll at the University of Washington Honors Program
studying both languages and international
relations.
 West
Virginia
Andrew Barnes
Preston High School
Kingwood, WV
Coordinator: Ms. Catherine Nutter
Andy recently graduated from Preston High School in
Kingwood, WV. He will be attending West Virginia University
in the fall where he plans to major in political science. He
has participated in many activities at school, such as
soccer (goalie), wrestling (160), and band (trombone).
Andrew was also Vice-President of your friendly neighborhood
student council. He appeared in many theatre productions
such as the Little Shop of Horrors and Joseph and the
Technicolor Dreamcoat. Andy has many interests and varied
tastes in music, movies, and books.
 Wisconsin
Steven A. Sumner
Wauwatosa West High School
Wauwatosa, WI
Coordinator: Mr. Jeff Moreland
This fall Steve will be attending Marquette University to
major in Biology and minor in Spanish. He enjoys playing
tennis and working as an EMT with an ambulance company.
Someday he hopes to work as an ethnobotanist in possibly the
richest portion of the Amazon Rainforest -- French
Guiana.
 Wyoming
Jordan Wilde
Worland High School
Worland, WY
Coordinator: Mr. Tim McGee
Jordan participates in National Honor Society (President),
Key Club (Board Member), Student Council (President),
Debate/Forensics (President), and band in school. In his
free time his activities include youth-mentoring, boy
scouts, and my church youth group. Jordan enjoys playing
soccer, volleyball, the piano, and reading. In the fall, he
has plans to attend the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
Even though his major is not yet decided, he intends on
pursuing studies related to international business or
international relations.
Alabama-Kentucky
| Louisiana-Oklahoma
| Oregon-Wyoming
|
