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Winners' Biographies
Texas
Christopher J. Svetlik | Klein Collins High School | Spring, TX
"Striking at the Source: Confronting the Dual Sources of Nuclear Proliferation"
Coordinator: Ms. Karen A Squyres
Chris is in the graduating class of 2006 at Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas. He is a National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, winner of the Woodmen of the World Award for Achievement in US History, and former Assistant Editor of his school’s student newspaper. He is involved in the National Honor Society and various local charities and was one of the founding members of The Hope Bag Project, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that focuses on outreach to the homeless and other disenfranchised segments of society. He is currently employed as an intern at the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, and he also performs freelance graphic design work. Chris plans to attend the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and has tentative plans to major in International Relations. He has plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in the non-profit sector relating to nonviolent conflict resolution or international development.
U.S. Territories
Maria G. Fernandez | Academia del Perpetuo Socorro | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
"Nuclear Weapons as a Blackmailing Policy"
Coordinator: Prof. Marie Gillette
Maria lives in Guaynabo, a part of the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She lives with her parents and a younger thirteen-year-old brother. She has been involved in community service in a home for the elderly. In addition, last summer She worked in an internship with Congressman Ken Calvert of California and Congressman Luis Fortuno of Puerto Rico. She was a member of her school’s intercollegiate history team, where her school won first place. She has won various awards in Model United Nations competitions including second and third place. She was also a parliamentarian at her last United Nations competition. In May, she will be graduating from Academia del Perpetuo Socorro High School in San Juan. This fall, she will be enrolling in the Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. and majoring in International Relations.
Utah
Matthew A. Jonassaint | Orem High School | Orem, UT
"A Return to Humanity: South Africa, North Korea, and Nuclear Proliferation"
Coordinator: Mr. William Gillespie
Matthew lives in Orem, Utah, and calls this modest sized city his home. Although he has not received many special awards, he has participated in creative and challenging activities. He was a member of his high schools newspaper’s staff, a literary magazine’s co-chief editor, and a sound technician for the school auditorium. He was a peer tutor for special needs students and a mentor for over fifteen sophomores. He has had his poetry published in a magazine and requested publication from the American leagues of poets. He also had an opinion piece published in a major local newspaper. He won first place in Utah Region Seven state debate tournament in 2005 with an original oratory speech. In his senior year, he received the US Academy of Achievement Minority Leadership Award. After he graduates, Matthew wants to get a doctorate in clinical psychology while he also pursues his interest in hacking computer programs, writing, photography, photojournalism, drawing/painting, documentary filmmaking, directing music videos, LDS seminary, teaching and traveling the states helping teens. Someday he wants to travel to Africa and help people there.
Vermont
Bradley Z. Carlson | Champlain Valley Union High School | St. George, VT
"Controlling the Spread of Nuclear Weapons"
Coordinator: Mr. William Mares
Brad describes himself as a simple person. He is from St. George, Vermont, and is currently spending his second semester of senior year abroad in Annecy, France, learning French and climbing mountains-- the two pursuits that extend to almost everything he does. Fortunately academics and mountains are both very broad domains, including a whole slew of outdoor sports and more intriguing areas of study than he knows what to do with. These past two months abroad, however, have started to give him some focus in the face of so many options. Languages, international relations, and regional study all come together with a major called International Studies at Middlebury College, where he will attend this fall. He is keeping his options open. He is a young person trying to sort things out, just like the forty-eight other NPEC state winners who've been asked to describe themselves in 150 words or less.
Virginia
Mindy Y. Zhang | J.W. Robinson Secondary School | Fairfax, VA
"Incentive, Diplomacy, and Verifiability: The Keys to Preventing Nuclear Proliferation"
Coordinator: Mr. Shawn S. Zhang
Mindy is a human rights activist from Northern Virginia who volunteers for the Save Darfur Coalition. She is the Virginia Student Coordinator for Amnesty International, an organization that promotes human rights through grassroots efforts. In 2005, she won the Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest, sponsored by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Through her participation in Model United Nations, Mindy developed an interest in global development and poverty reduction. In order to pursue this interest, Mindy plans to major in Economics and East Asian Studies in hopes of pursuing a career in Asian trade and development.
Washington
Kona L. Shen | The Northwest School | Seattle, WA
"Diffusing Nuclear Tensions through Internationally Supported Bilateral Collaborations"
Coordinator: Mr. Jeff Blair
Kona lives in Seattle, WA and goes to the Northwest School. In the fall of 2006 she will be attending Brown University in Providence, RI. She is an active board member of Teens in Public Service and Executive Editor of her school’s bi-quarterly publication. She’s passionate about social justice issues and has written for Real Change news, which is sold by homeless vendors and focuses on grass-root news stories. In December she volunteered with Disaster Corps in Bay, St Louis, MS to repair and gut houses that were devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She received the Gold Presidential Service Award and the TIPS Outstanding Service Award for Alumni.
West Virginia
No winner was selected for West Virginia. We strongly encourage teachers and students from West Virginia to participate in next year's contest.
Wisconsin
Cindy X. Jia | Central High School | La Crosse, WI
"Deliberate Policy to Control Nuclear Weapons"
Coordinator: Ms. Colleen A Jarchow
Cindy is a junior at Central High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was a sophomore at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah and a freshman at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She adapts to new environments easily, and every move has increased her appreciation for friendship. She has been passionately involved in many extracurricular activities, such as the National Honor Society, marching band, drama club, and debate, math, and swim teams. Although she missed some chances to run for office due to frequent moving, her classmates have always recognized her as a leader nonetheless. In her community, she has volunteered at children’s bible study, church nursery, and various fundraisers. She plans to major in Economics and Political Science and looks forward to the day when she could contribute more to promoting economic development and world peace.
Wyoming
Myste B. Shryack | Worland High School | Worland, WY
"Living on Borrowed Time: An Essay on the Efforts of Nuclear Nonproliferation"
Coordinator: Mr. Tim McGee
Myste hails from Worland, Wyoming. All her life she has been interested in politics due to her mother’s government job. When she reached ninth grade she followed her interest to the local speech and debate club where, for the past two years, she has learned about international (as well as national) troubles and peacekeeping efforts. Speech is not her only past time; she also enjoys working for her community through her Girl Scout and 4-H groups. In school, she participates in swimming, gymnastics, theatre, marching band, concert band, the school newspaper, German club, Language Festival, track, and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She also has a part time job at a local restaurant. Then, in whatever time she has left after that, she likes to read, write, and sketch. She enthusiastically claims that no matter how hectic her life seems, she can always make it great!
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