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Winners' Biographies
Alabama
Claire E. Chamberlin | Fairhope High School | Fairhope, Alabama
"Youth in Conflict"
Coordinator: Ms. Karen C. Myrick
Claire lives in Fairhope, Alabama, where she is a sophomore at Fairhope High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and Scholar's Bowl. She hopes to become fluent in as many languages as possible, and is currently studying French, Spanish, Russian and Thai. Her favorite activities include tumbling and circus training. After graduating high school, Claire hopes to attend Columbia University and major in Medicine.
Alaska
Elizabeth A. Phillips | West High School | Anchorage, Alaska
"Friends Do Not Fight Friends"
Coordinator: Ms. Lisa G. Phillips
Elizabeth, a lifelong Alaskan, is a sophomore at West Anchorage High School. She participates in Mock Trial, Model United Nations, tennis, DDF, and riflery. Lettering in both DDF and riflery in her first years, she achieved the riflery's varsity "A" team and distinction as "most improved." She is also a member of Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, a Senior Girl Scout, and a volunteer for Anchorage Animal Control. She is extremely active in the Anchorage Youth Court, which provides "juvenile justice for youth by youth," as a leading attorney, judge, and mentor, and by holding positions on the Board of Directors, the Ethics Board, and as Treasurer. She plays the flute for both her school's symphonic band and Alaska's Arctic Wind Flute Choir. She plans to study biomedical engineering first and go on to medical school. She hopes to eventually give back to society through serving in programs such as Doctors Without Borders.
Arizona
Wendy W. Cai | Corona Del Sol High School | Tempe, Arizona
"Reintegrating Children, Building Peace: Interaction, Education and Participation"
Coordinator: Virginia Teeples
A resident of Tempe, Arizona, Wendy is a junior at Corona del Sol High School. An active participant of the annual fight against cancer, she organizes the Luminaria ceremony that honors the memory of loved ones and celebrates the courage of survivors. She represents the youths in her community by serving as the Chair of Community Service for Mayor’s Youth Commission. Exhibiting leadership and passion, she drives numerous events as the vice president of National Honor Society, Red Cross Club, and Corona Cancer Community. Her hobbies range from playing a vigorous game of badminton to living vicariously through the characters in a novel. As one of seven winners in the 2006 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest, Wendy will continue to be immersed in the humanities by attending the 2007 Telluride Association Summer Program right after the NPEC Awards Program.
Arkansas
Amanda A. Johnson | Pulaski Academy | Little Rock, Arkansas
"Preventing the Use of Children in Terrorism: Sri Lanka and Palestine"
Coordinator: Mr. William J. Topich
Amanda is a junior at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Interested in the social sciences, she is vice president of her school's Model United Nations club and Young Republicans Society. She is also a member of the Honor Council, the Little Rock Mayor's Youth Council, and the varsity girls' soccer team. Amanda directs her church youth choir, plays the piano, and has received a superior rating from the National Federation of Music Clubs for ten consecutive years. She tutors once a week at a local elementary school and is also an after-school tutor in Spanish and Math. She recently received the National Spanish Honor Society's Travel Scholarship, several awards at her district foreign language competition and science fair, first place for a research paper at District History Day, and a nomination to attend Girls' State.
California
Matthias Nikaj | Francis Parker School | San Diego, California
"Reintegrating Youth Combatants: Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo"
Coordinator: Cherie Redelings
Matthias was born in Tirana, Albania, where he lived until 1997, when economic instability and violence caused Albania to collapse into virtual anarchy. Shortly before the troubles began, in March 1997, his family moved to the United States. Arriving in the US at age five, Matthias speaks English at school and Albanian at home. He is currently a freshman at Francis Parker School in San Diego, California. He is on the track team, plays in the band, and participates in various clubs. Keeping in touch with his foreign roots, Matthias has developed a keen interest in foreign languages, international affairs, European history, and politics. Realizing what great opportunities the United States has given him, Matthias gives back to his community by assisting underprivileged African refugees at San Diego's Alliance for African Assistance. He has been to Washington, DC twice before as an essay finalist in the National History Day competition. In his spare time he watches movies, goes to the beach, and reads.
Colorado
Graham A. Herrli | Fairview High School | Boulder, Colorado
"The Necessity to Reintegrate Child Soldiers into their Societies after War"
Coordinator: Barbara S. Herrli
Graham thrives in the invigorating mountain air of Eldorado Springs Canyon near Boulder, CO. He revels in the delight of learning as much as he can, and has joined countless clubs at his school for this purpose, participating as an active member in three foreign language clubs, a captain of his school's Knowledge Bowl team, and an avid member of the Swing Dance Club, among other activities. His love of learning has prompted him to teach himself to juggle, to unicycle, and to speak French. Graham's belief in the paramount importance of learning has led to his involvement as a fundraiser for girls' education in Africa and as a tutor at the local middle school. Graham loves writing. He has written three books and hopes to eventually publish these and many more. This fall Graham will take up residence at Stanford, where he plans to major in history. He aspires to become a lawyer or a professor.
Connecticut
Sarah C. Hebert | Northwest Catholic High School | West Hartford, Connecticut
"Preventing Youth Participation in Armed Conflict"
Coordinator: Mr. William Tressler
Sarah will graduate from high school this June, and is headed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the fall. She will major in electronic media, arts, and communication. Sarah has been active in Irish Step Dancing for the last fourteen years, and is currently a preliminary champion and an assistant teacher. She also enjoys volunteering in her community, playing violin and viola, and many types of craftwork.
Delaware
Tiffany E. Wen | Newark High School | Newark, Delaware
"Combating Violent Conflict by Eliminating Youth Militancy: Mozambique and Sierra Leone"
Coordinator: Mr. Brett P. Tomashek
Tiffany will be graduating as valedictorian and class president this year at Newark High. A Girls Nation alumna, she is excited to return to DC. Tiffany is a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. Named Outstanding Senator, she was twice selected to the YMCA Conference on National Affairs, on behalf of both Model UN and DE Youth in Government. In addition to her academic pursuits, Tiffany is a six-time team captain and twelve-season varsity letterman in cross country, indoor track, and track. She has also served as a Lt. Governor in the Capital District of Key Club International, the world's largest high school service organization. She credits her MUN/YIG advisor, Brett Tomashek, as her greatest inspiration thus far, encouraging her international pursuits and introducing her to the coffeehouse she currently inhabits. Tiffany will be attending Harvard University as a government major in the fall.
District of Columbia
No winner was selected for the District of Columbia. We strongly encourage teachers and students from the District of Columbia to participate in next year's contest.
Florida
Zachary S. Herron | Stanton College Preparatory School | Jacksonville, Florida
"A Return to Innocence"
Coordinator: Ben W. MacKay
Zach resides in Jacksonville, Florida, where he is an International Baccalaureate candidate at Stanton College Preparatory School. He serves on the Student Senate, is active in numerous honor societies, and will be attending Boys State. Zach has volunteered at the Jewish Community Alliance camps for children as a counselor. He has written extensively to the State Congress, attempting to persuade legislators to vote against a mandated school start date. His interest in politics and international affairs is only exceeded by his interest in religious studies and philosophy, in which he plans to major in college. In the future he hopes to meet a wide range of people, share good conversations, and learn much.
Georgia
Harrison J. Falk | Duluth High School | Duluth, Georgia
"Child Soldiers in Iran and Sri Lanka: A Study in Contrasts"
Coordinator: Geri L. Flanary
Harrison is involved in orchestra, track, and Model United Nations at Duluth High School, where he is a freshman, but his deepest interests lie in philosophy, politics, and the piano. He especially enjoys studying the philosophy of Ayn Rand and Francis Fukuyama, the French political climate, and piano composition. He is lucky to be graced with a loving family that filled his room with books. He especially prides himself on his habit of never finishing a book without writing his own thoughts in the margins.
Hawaii
Selina M. Wong | Hawaii Baptist Academy | Honolulu, Hawaii
"Guiding the Impressionable"
Coordinator: Ms. Diane Hom
Selina is a senior at Hawaii Baptist Academy, where she serves as a representative of the student council and worked on the yearbook and school newspaper. She has also participated as a varsity member of her school's cross-country and canoe paddling teams. Her hobbies include tennis, jogging, snorkeling, and bodyboarding. This fall Selina will begin the doctoral program at the University of Hawaii School of Architecture.
Idaho
Kristina L. Doyle | North Fremont High School | Ashton, Idaho
"Building Bridges to Peace Through Youth Camaraderie"
Coordinator: Nancy G. Doyle
Kristina is a lifelong resident of Island Park, Idaho, just west of Yellowstone National Park. She travels 35 miles each morning to attend North Fremont High School in Ashton, where she is a senior. She plans to study international relations in college, and looks forward to participating in a study abroad program and in international service projects. Kristina enjoys skiing, snowboarding, sailing, and her hobbies include both listening to and playing music, from opera to rap. Travel is high on Kristina's priority list and she looks forward to visiting Washington, DC and meeting students from around the country who are interested in foreign policy.
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