Kiran Kotagal lives in Cleveland, Ohio and is currently completing the ninth-grade at Beaumont School. Kiran is active in many school activities including the Yearbook Committee and the Student Council. She is very interested in the Arts and is enrolled in the Studio Arts program at her school. She also likes to sing and perform in the theater. Kiran is also interested in the sciences and has entered her science fair project in regional competitions. In her spare time, she enjoys being with close friends and attending movies and plays.

 
Oklahoma
Ms. Marisa Elizabeth Anderson
"The United States Involvement in International Peacekeeping"
Jenks High School
Jenks, OK
Coordinator: Mr. Eric Fox

As an honor student at Jenks High school in Jenks, OK, Marisa has learned much about what it takes to succeed. Through her participation in yearbook, she has discovered a love for writing and photography. Marisa is an active member in the Jenks High School volunteering organization Key Club, and was re-elected as editor of the Club's newsletter. Having recently been accepted to the National Honor Society and the Oklahoma Honor Society, Marisa plans to attend college and pursue a career in photojournalism and a possible photography internship with National Geographic. In her spare time she enjoys taking photographs, running, and volunteering within her community.

 
Oregon
Mr. Tianhua Li
"A Historical Analysis of Peacekeeping"
Oregon Episcopal School
Portland, OR
Coordinator: Ms. Hope B. Stevens

Tianhui will be a senior in Oregon Episcopal School in Fall 2002. In his school activities, Tianhui founded a geopolitical club and has been editor of the school newspaper and technical editor of the school's literary magazine. In his junior year, he founded the schoolęs Science Bowl Team. Tianhui is particulary interested in math and science and has participated in several science fairs, including winning first place at the Northwest Science Expo in 2002. With a strong interest in computer programming, he has spent part of his summers designing and constructing a robotic horse at Portland State University and working as an intern at Intelęs Microprocessor Research Lab. Tianhui loves to play the piano, which he has been studying for over eight years. He has participated in several performances and competitions, and received several awards, including first place in the 7th Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition and an honorable mention at the Oregon Symphony Corbett Young Artist Competition in 2001. Tianhui is planning to study computer science in college.

 
Pennsylvania
Mr. Sameer Soi
"The Military's Role in the Global Village"
Bishop McCort High School
Johnstown, PA
Coordinator: Ms. Fran Pozun

Sameer is an honors junior student at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Along with his regular courses, he takes chemsitry and biology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he also participates in the collegiate Model United Nations and Model European Union teams. In addition, Sameer is the captain of his varsity tennis team, Scholastic Quiz team, and Science Bowl team. He secured highest scorer at the Carnegie Mellon quiz bowl at the local district level. Aside from his other pursuits, Sameer enjoys listening to his eclectic music collection ranging from the gangsta rappers, the Wu-Tang Clan, to the immortal crooner, Frank Sinatra. He also has a voracious appetite for reading.

 
Rhode Island
Ms. Elaina Matook
"Speak Softly or Carry a Big Stick?"
St. Mary Academy - Bay view
Riverside, RI
Coordinator: Ms. Marion Wrye

Elaina is a 16 year-old junior in high school. She has been dancing for 13 years and is an accomplished artist. Elaina hurdles and sprints on both the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams at her school. President of the National Honor Society for her school, Elaina is involved in numerous school activities, including the Model Legislature Club, Amnesty International, and Peer Ministry. She is also the secretary for the teen group at her local parish. Elaina aspires to enter the medical field and is looking forward to her senior year.

 
South Carolina
Ms. Elizabeth Hafter
"Peace Essay"
Irmo High School
Columbia, SC
Coordinator: Ms. Jan P. McCarthy

Elizabeth is a recent graduate of Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina. An active student in her school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and the National German Honor Society. Taking a leadership role, she served as Vice-President of the German Club, chapter President of the International Thespian Society, and board member of the Drama Club. Throughout high school, she performed in a number of plays and musicals. In the fall, she will attend the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia to study theatre.

 
South Dakota
Ms. Jessica A. Hicks
"Taking the Middle Ground: The Role of the U.S. Military in International Peacekeeping With Focus on Rwanda and Bosnia"
St. Thomas More High School
Rapid City, SD
Coordinator: Ms. Marian V. Reed

Jessica is an honor student at St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City, South Dakota. She has been an officer in the National Honor Society, the Society of Savio, and the French Club. Active in her church, Jessica has served as a cantor and Bishop's alter server at the Cathedral in Rapid City. In addition, she has participated in the National Catholic Youth Choir, Girls State, and Hugh O'Brian Youth. Interested in international travel, she has visited France and attended World Youth Day in Rome, Italy. Jessica will attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to earn her degree in Interdisciplinary Science. She plans to become an occupational therapist.

 
Tennessee
Mr. William James Canestaro
"Never Losing Sight of the Greater Goal of Peace"
West High School
Knoxville, TN
Coordinator: Mr. Louis J. Gallo

Will is an AP scholar with Honors graduating from West High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is captain of the track team, senior class secretary, and founder of a liberal public policy forum at his high school, as well as lector and eucharistic minister at John XXIII Catholic student center. He is an an eagle scout, the Henry Salvatori Scholar for the Order of the Sons of Italy in America and holds black belts in Taekwondo and Hopkido. This fall he will be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, majoring in biology.

 
Texas
Mr. Adam Solove
"The Burden of Peace"
Plano West Senior High School
Plano, TX
Coordinator: Ms. Nila Stewart

Adam attends Plano West Senior High School in Plano, TX, where he will be a senior in the fall. He is a recent transplant from Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, CO where he received an academic varsity letter last year. Adam participates in a variety of extracurricular activities including an award winning school choir, National Forensics League, National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. Speech and debate consumes the majority of his time and has deeply influenced his intellectual development. As a sophomore Adam won the district competition in extemporaneous speaking, qualifying him for the national NFL debate tournament. Being an avid follower of world events and foreign policy, he has ample fodder for his avocation as a political satirist. Adam hopes to graduate from college with a degree in international relations.

 
Ms. Ashley Wollam
"The United States' Responsibilitiy to Play an Active Role in International Peacekeeping"
Santa Fe High School
Santa Fe, TX
Coordinator: Ms. Pattie Franklin

Ashley is a senior at Santa Fe High School in Texas, where she is very involved in school-life. This past year Ashley was co-drum captain of the marching band, President of the National Honor Society, and President and founder of the Student Diversity Alliance. She is actively involved in her church and enjoys volunteering once a week at the Crisis Pregnancy Support Center. Ashley grew up with two sisters and her parents and this year her family finalized the adoption of a new sister and two little brothers who Ashley feels are the "greatest thing in my life." Ashley was home-schooled until 9th grade, which she feels uniquely prepared her for the life she will lead and provided her with a solid foundation. Ashley's dream is to be a counselor at a crisis center, shelter, or AIDS hospice and to travel the world on mission trips. Ashley plans to study psychology, with a specialization in counseling, at Liberty University.

 
U.S. Territories
Ms. Maria Victoria Mayoral
"Military Peacekeepers "Fight" Wars"
Academia del Perpetuo Socorro
San Juan, PR
Coordinator: Ms. Marie Gillette

Maria is a recent graduate of Academia del Perpetuo Socorro in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was the President of the Medicine and Health Club, co-founder and Vice-President of the Psychology Club, Yearbook vocal, senior class activities' coordinator, Honors Academy member, and a swimmer for the High School Athletic Alliance Swim Team. Active in her community, she serves as a tutor and social worker for a battered girls' home and a social worker for the San Francisco Church breakfast station for the homeless. In addition to being an honors student, Maria has received certificates for dedicated service in the Medicine and Health Club, excellence in honors psychology, and for accomplishment in a Christian Moral class. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her four beagles and snorkeling. She will attend Tufts University in the fall to major in biopsychology and plans to become a child psychiatrist.

 
Utah
Mr. Sam Yarbrough
"Peacekeeping"
Layton High School
Layton, UT
Coordinator: Ms. Lark Woodbury

Sam Yarbrough attends Layton High School in Utah where he has been elected to serve as a senior officer next year. Outside of school, he enjoys snowboarding, wakeboarding and drawing. As one of seven children, Sam frequently puts family first. In his spare time he enjoys playing with his dog Darla and listening to his favorite band, U2. He hopes to attend either BYU or Utah State in 2003.

 
Vermont
Ms. Lila Specker
"The United States Military...Asking for an Invitation?"
Vermont Academy
Saxtons River, VT
Coordinator: Mr. John Bohannon

Lila is a Cum Laude student at the Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont. She is a keen participant in her school's sports programs, including varsity ice hockey, mountain biking, tennis, soccer, and riding. Lila is also devoted to playing violin and participates in her school's jazz band. With a passionate interest in traveling, she has spent a month in France as a volunteer on an international work crew and three weeks in China with the Governor's Institute of Vermont. In her spare time, she enjoys painting portraits with acrylics and listening to music. Lila will be a freshman at Brandeis University next fall and plans to major in biology with a pre-med concentration.

 
Virginia
Ms. Angela J. Lederach
"Peace Force: Building Global Capacity"
Eastern Mennonite High School
Harrisonburg, VA
Coordinator: Mr. Elwood E. Yoder

Angie is an honor student from Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisburg, Virginia. She is a member of the school's touring choir that will tour in Europe this summer. During her high school career, Angie participated in school plays and the United Nations and Peace Clubs. She is a member of the Harrisonburg Youth Council and volunteers at Teenline, a hotline for teenagers. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, snowboarding, hiking, and international travel. She has visited Northern Ireland, west and east Africa, and Central America. She plans to attend Hesston College this fall and major in Peace and Conflict Studies.

 
Washington
Ms. Sarah Hulse
"The Role of the U.S. Military in International Peacekeeping"
Saint George's School
Spokane, WA
Coordinator: Ms. Lynne Stembridge

Sarah is a student as Saint George's School in Spokane, Washington. She is a member of the varsity Knowledge Bowl Team, which recently won the state championship. She leases a thoroughbred-quarter horse cross named Nike Boy and shows him in hunter and dressage classes. Sarah spent her junior year of high school living in Washington, DC, serving as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives. She will return to the nation's capitol next fall to study international politics at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

 
West Virginia
Ms. Emily Stolzenberg
"The Consequence of American Military Abdication: Nazi Germany and Taliban Afghanistan"
Morgantown High School
Morgantown, WV
Coordinator: Dr. Jacob Seitz

Emily recently graduated from Morgantown High School in Morgantown, West Virginia. She plays flute and has been first chair at All-State Band and WVU Honor Band, performed at the state honors recital, and twice won the West Virginia Music Teachers' Association performance competition. In addition, she is active in her youth group and plays lacrosse. Emily enjoys writing, and her tri-weekly columns appear in her local newspaper. She has been a National Merit Finalist, an Advanced Placement Scholar, and a National Council of Teachers of English Writing Achievement winner. A Girl Scout for eleven year, Emily has also earned her Gold Award. She will spend next year in northern Italy as an exchange student through Rotary International before entering Princeton University.

 
Wisconsin
Mr. Alexander Balistreri
"Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace"
Neenah High School
Neenah, WI
Coordinator: Ms. Anna Olson

Alex recently graduated from Neenah High School, a school of about 2200 students, at the top of this class. Alex, who won the varsity Wisconsin state debate championship in 2001 and 2002, also participated in foreign extemporaneous speaking and played his clarinet in numerous local organizations. He will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study both international relations and music composition. Although he is still undecided on his career goals, he currenty plans to study journalism and work as a foreign correspondent for news radio.

 
Wyoming
Ms. Caitlin Wheeless
"The Peace Enigma"
Worland High School
Worland, WY
Coordinator: Mr. Tim McGee

Caitlin is a recent graduate of Worland High School in Worland, Wyoming. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Captain of the Academic Challenge Team, and recently developed an interest in soccer. Editor of the website, Worldzkids.com, she devotes part of her time to helping educate kids on peace issues and develop a greater understanding among youth. In her spare time, she enjoys scouting the bad lands with her dogs. This fall she will attend Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

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