Alabama
Ms. Amber Busha
"Securing the Blessings of Liberty for America, or for the World"
Fellowship Christian School
Double Springs, AL
Coordinator: Ms. Lisa Claytor

 
Alaska
Ms. Emily Phillips
"Peacekeeping: A Necessity for the U.S. Military"
A.J.Dimond High School
Anchorage, AK
Coordinator: Mr. Greg Brown

 
Arizona
Ms. Benita E Williams
"Security in a Post Cold War World"
Hamilton High School
Chandler, AZ
Coordinator: Ms. Louise Williams

 
Arkansas
Mr. Rick Campbell
"Debating the U.S. Military's Role in Peacekeeping"
Pulaski Academy
Little Rock, AR
Coordinators: Mr. William Topich & Ms. Ginger Kidd

 
California
Mr. David M. Chen
"U.S. Military's Reconciliation of Peacekeeping Goals and Tactical Conservatism"
Mills High School
Millbrae, CA
Coordinator: Mr. Tim Keller

 
Colorado
Ms. Renee Kucharek
"U.S. Peacekeeping Needs Balance"
Gateway High School
Aurora, CO
Coordinator: Mr. Phil Gerkin

 
Connecticut
Mr. Derek Child
"A New World Order: The Role of the U.S. Military in a Changing World"
Woodstock Academy
Woodstock, CT
Coordinator: Mr. Paul M. Cunningham

 
Delaware
Ms. Dina L. Hardy
"Fighting A Different War: The United States Role in International Peacekeeping"
Concord High School
Wilmington, DE
Coordinator: Mr. Peter J. Ferrario

 
District of Columbia
Mr. Otubanjo Olufemi
"Arguments for and Against U.S. Peacekeeping"
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Washington, DC
Coordinator: Mr. Stanley Boyd

 
Florida
Mr. Prabhu Balasubramanian
"American Peacekeeping: Duty or Folly? Winter Park High School"
Winter Park, FL
Coordinator: Mr. Steven DeZwart

 
Georgia
Mr. Christopher Heaney
"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"
Brunswick High School
Brunswick, GA
Coordinator: Ms. Diana Pope

 
Hawaii
Ms. Valerie Sakimura
"The U.S. Military's Role in International Peacekeeping"
University Laboratory School
Honolulu, HI
Coordinator: Ms. Susan E. York

 
Idaho
Ms. Natassja Uraine
"U.S. Military Peacekeeping Involvement: the Responsibility of World Leader"
Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coordinator: Mr. David B. Kaplan, Esq.

 
Illinois
Mr. Vladimir Gutman
"Superpower: Privilege or Responsibility?"
Gaudeamus, Inc.
Northbrook, IL
Coordinator: Mr. Eugene Gutman

 
Indiana
Mr. John Wilson Glennon
"The United States' Role in International Peacekeeping"
North Central High School
Indianapolis, IN
Coordinator: Mr. William Broderick

 
Iowa
Ms. Mara Determan
"Justification of Intervention by Force"
Marshalltown Sr. High School
Marshalltown, IA
Coordinator: Mr. Brian L. Johnson

 
Kansas
Ms. Melissa Byers
"Determining the Role of Peacekeeping in a Global Age"
Blue Valley North High School
Overland Park, KS
Coordinator: Ms. Michele Radio

 
Kentucky
Ms. Bethany Johnson
"War and Peace(keeping)"
Harlan High School
Harlan, KY
Coordinator: Ms. Vickie Ball

 
Louisiana
Ms. Jessica Rosenberg
"United States Foreign Policy in Kosovo and Kuwait: Starting, Making, and Keeping the Peace "
Neville High School
Monroe, LA
Coordinator: Ms. Valerie Batley

 
Maryland
Mr. David Epstein
"Safeguarding Human Rights and Preventing Conflict through U.S. Peacekeeping"
Pikesville High School
Baltimore, MD
Coordinator: Mr. Martr Hotz

 
Massachusetts
Ms. Elinathan Ohiomoba
"Peace and the New World Order"
Milton Academy
Milton, MA
Coordinator: Ms. Carly Wade

 
Michigan
Mr. Shailesh Agarwal
"Proposals in Peace: Sending Our Forces in Effectively"
Troy High School
Troy, MI
Coordinator: Ms. Linda Pavich

 
Minnesota
Mr. Michael Beckstrand
"Peacekeeping: Necessary, Multifaceted, Evolving"
Elk River Area High School
Elk River, MN
Coordinator: Mr. Tom Fuller

 
Mississippi
Mr. David Mark Sullivan
"Pursuing National Interests Through Military Intervention"
Madison Central High School
Madison, MS
Coordinator: Ms. Susan Shivers

 
Missouri
Mr. David T. Olson
"Peacekeeping for the 21st Century"
Charlotte Street Home School
Kansas City, MO
Coordinator: Mr. David C Kinred

 
Montana
Ms. Elizabeth Carlisle
"Nation-Building Versus Ostrich Isolationism: Finding a Happy Medium for US Foreign Policy"
Hellgate High School
Missoula, MT
Coordinator: Mr. Robin L. Hamilton

 
Nebraska
Mr. Ben Leeper
"The Role of the United States in Global Conflicts"
Alliance High School
Alliance, NE
Coordinator: Mr. Edward Foy

 
New Hampshire
Mr. Daniel Knowlton
"Debating the U.S. Military's Role in International Peace Keeping"
Pelham High School
Pelham, NH
Coordinator: Ms. Diane Gioseffi

 
New Jersey
Ms. Madeline L. Kunsberg
"Peacekeeping Revisited: Evaluating Peacekeeping As One Form of Military Intervention"
Kunsberg Homeschool
Maplewood, NJ
Coordinator: Ms. Joy L. Kunsberg

 
New Mexico
Ms. Lucrece Borrego
"In War and Peace: Debating the Role of the United States in International Peacekeeping"
Los Alamos High School
Los Alamos, NM
Coordinator: Ms. Nancy Schick

 
New York
Mr. Peter Christodoulou
"The Proper Role of the U.S. Military in International Peacekeeping Operations"
Stuyvesant High School
New York, NY
Coordinator: Ms. Jennifer Suri

 
North Carolina
Ms. Neha Koul
"Transitioning the U.S. Military - From a "Threat-Based" to a "Capabilities-Based" Model"
W.G. Enloe High School
Raleigh, NC
Coordinator: Mrs. Betty Timberlake

 
Ohio
Ms. Kiran Kotagal
"So Far, and Yet So Near: Foreign Policy Comes Home"
Beaumont
Cleveland, OH
Coordinator: Ms. Maria Janossy

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

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

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

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

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

 
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

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

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

 
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

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

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

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

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

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

 
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

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

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

Note - When selecting the winning essay for each state, the state-level essay judging panels --qualified experts selected by the Institute each year -- often pick several essays for Honorable Mentions each year. These Honorable Mentions are meant to recognize the work of students who also wrote particularly strong essays that year. As Honorable Mentions are chosen at the discretion of the judging panel, the number of Honorable Mentions not only varies from year to year, but from state to state as Honorable Mentions are also always not always chosen for all states.

 
Idaho
Honorable Mention
Mr. Erik Johnson
"Not the Only Option: Debating the United States Military's Role in International Peacekeeping"
Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coordinator: Mr. David B. Kaplan, Esq.

 
Illinois
Honorable Mention
Mr. Matthew C Modaff
"Warriors for Peace"
Lisle Senior High School
Lisle, IL
Coordinator: Ms. Martha T. Truember

 
Indiana
Honorable Mention
Mr. Nicholas Frecker
"The Military, The Government, and Peace"
Our Laday of the Rosary Homeschool
Marion, IN
Coordinator: Mr. Melvin Fecker

 
Maryland
Honorable Mention
Mr. Gregory Parnell
"A Step in the Right Direction: International Peace Intervention"
Magruder High School
Rockville, MD
Coordinator: Ms. Coutni Wright

 
Michigan
Honorable Mention
Ms. Zahreen Ghaznavi
"Ensuring Peace and Stability Through Success in Military Engagements"
Community High School
Ann Arbor, MI
Coordinator: Ms. Judith DeWoskin

 
Minnesota
Honorable Mention
Mr. Jason Gregory Baskin
"U.S. Peacekeeping Roles"
Austin, MN

 
Mississippi
Honorable Mention
Mr. Patrick Zornow
"The American Dream: Intervening for Peace"
St. Joseph Catholic School
Madison, MS
Coordinator: Mr. William Heller

 
Missouri
Honorable Mention
Ms. Malena Kweli Amusa
"Reevaluating the Role of the U.S. Military in Promoting Global Peace and National Security"
Metro High School
St. Louis, MO
Coordinator: Mr. Anthony Phillips

 
Nebraska
Honorable Mention
Ms. Alyssa Egger
"Counting the Cost"
Duchesne Academy
Omaha, NE
Coordinator: Ms. Laura McKee Hickman

 
New Jersey
Honorable Mention
Ms. Arye Emert
"Debating the U.S. Military's Role in International Peacekeeping"
West Windsor - Plainsboro High School - South
Princeton Junction, NJ
Coordinator: Ms. Leslie Levin

 
New York
Honorable Mention
Mr. Andrew Dombrowski
"Towards A Viable Peacekeeping Strategy"
Shaker High School
Latham, NY
Coordinator: Mr. Kenneth Sigas

 
North Carolina
Honorable Mention
Ms. Marissa Heyl
"U.S. Military Policy for the 21st Century"
Cardinal Gibbons High School
Raleigh, NC
Coordinator: Ms. Pamela Heyl

 
Ohio
Honorable Mention
Mr. Justin Allen Wilmes
"A Pragmatic Approach to Foreign Policy"
Chaminade - Julienne High School
Dayton, OH
Coordinator: Ms. Angela M. Ruffolo

 
Oregon
Honorable Mention
Mr. Aaron Cole
"Pragmatic Politics"
Tualatin High School
Tualatin, OR
Coordinator: Mr. William Patterson

 
Pennsylvania
Honorable Mention
Mr. Chirag Dedania
"The Pax Americana - A Peace for Our Time"
Moravian Academy
Bethlehem, PA
Coordinator: Mr. Robert Spahn

 
Rhode Island
Honorable Mention
Mr. Edward A. Brady
"Using the Military Forces for Peacekeeping: How to Help Best"
Mount Saint Charles Academy
Woonsocket, RI

 
Tennessee
Honorable Mention
Mr. Jon Gibbons
"Risk and Reward - America's Role in International Peacekeeping"
Family Christian Academy
Chattanooga, TN
Coordinator: Ms. Carolyn Denison

 
Texas
Honorable Mention
Mr. Richard Giraldi
"Finding A New Role for The United States in International Peacekeeping"
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
Houston, Tx
Coordinator: Mr. Jerry Crist

 
Utah
Honorable Mention
Mr. Christopher Adams
"Driven By A Higher Purpose"
Layton High School
Layton, UT
Coordinator: Ms. Lark Woodbury

 
Vermont
Honorable Mention
Ms. Stephanie Newman
"Peacekeeping and the United States: A Battle for Hearts and Minds"
Champlain Valley Union High School
Hinesburg, VT
Coordinator: Mr. William Mares

 
Virginia
Honorable Mention
Ms. Meredith de Blois
"Reaching Peace"
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
Richmond, VA
Coordinator: Mrs. Sarah Dwelle

 
Washington
Honorable Mention
Ms. Emily Chu
"Should the Military Be Involved In Peacekeeping Missions?"
Mariner High School
Everett, WA
Coordinator: Mr. Rob Storrs

 
Wisconsin
Honorable Mention
Ms. Chrissy Harbin
"Big Stick Politics"
Central High School
La Crosse, WI
Coordinator: Mr. Henry R. Poehling