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Winners' Biographies
Minnesota
Donald P. Warneke | Elk River High School | Elk River, Minnesota
"Proposition for the Rehabilitation of Child Soldiers"
Coordinator: Eidem A. Denise
As a junior at Elk River High School, Donald is a member of the National Honor Society and Interact, a service organization connected to Rotary International. He plays trombone in the high school band and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony (GTCYS). He also recently had the opportunity to play for Confirmation in his church, where he is a member of the youth choir and a peer minister. Donald also participates in cross-country running, Nordic skiing, and track, in which he has lettered and made many friends. After high school, Donald plans to study history and political science and to attend law school.
Mississippi
Steven W. Williams | Florence High School | Florence, Mississippi
"The New Horizons Program - Helping the World's Youth Avoid Violent Conflict"
Coordinator: Greg S. Williams
After his graduation from Florence High School, Steven plans to attend Mississippi State University to study political science. After college, he plans to go to law school and to pursue a career in public service and politics. At Florence, Steven serves as class president and captain of the soccer team, cross country team, academic team, and math and science team. He is also involved in the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, the Spanish Club, and the Drama Club. In his community, Steven is a member of Rankin County Youth Leadership, serves as a youth soccer referee, and is an active member and worship leader of the FBC Florence youth group. Steven has been selected as Mississippi's Wendy's High School Heisman scholar-athlete of the year, a Mississippi Governor's School Scholar, FHS's Star Student, Mr. FHS, and a Mississippi All-Star Soccer Player.
Missouri
Marjorie N. Jacobi | Whitfield School | St. Louis, Missouri
"Dire Consequences Result From Exploiting Children "
Coordinator: Ms. Heidi G. Hays
Student has not submitted a bio.
Montana
Elizabeth A. Ross | Billings Senior High School | Billings, Montana
"Let Us Begin"
Coordinator: Laura M. Ross
Elizabeth is a junior at Billings Senior High in Billings, Montana, but plans to attend college on the east coast. Her interests include law, history, and international relations. She is president of the Spanish Club and a member of Business Professionals of America, Trading Cards (an anti-alcohol and drug program), Senior Advocates (a mentoring program), and the National Honor Society. She lives an active lifestyle, playing baseball, soccer, and biking. She recently completed the biking leg of the Peaks to Prairie Triathlon. Last summer, she and her twin sister won the Best in the State Award at National History Day. She enjoys working at her family's apple orchard, backpacking in the Beartooth Mountains, and shopping. She loves to travel, and has visited Costa Rica and Spain with her school's Spanish Department. Liz loves learning and trying new things.
Nebraska
Megan E. Carroll | The Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart | Omaha, Nebraska
"Innocents Lost: The Children of War"
Coordinator: Chad P. Krier
Megan is Senior Class President and a member of the Social Justice Club at Duchesne Academy. A multi-talented athlete and artist, she has participated in softball, basketball, and soccer at Duchesne, has received several awards for her photography and artwork, and enjoys composing her own music. Megan was also recently inducted into her school's cum laude society, having recorded consistently excellent academic performance. When not relaxing with music, books or movies, Megan enjoys working the ice cream scoop at Ted and Wally's.
Nevada
Matthew S. Dentice | Virtual High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
"Seeking Refuge: Children In War"
Coordinator: Brian P. Moore
Matthew is a sophomore attending Virtual High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where his courses include Advanced Placement European History and World History. He has won academic awards in history, world geography, and language arts. His middle school also awarded him the John C. Vanderburg Memorial Award, given to the student who best displays the virtues of leadership, dedication and perseverance. This summer Matthew will be attending the Summer Advanced Gifted Education program at UNLV, where he will study European Politics. He has a strong interest in history, world affairs, literature, and writing, and plans to pursue a career in writing and filmmaking.
New Hampshire
Lauren E. Shuffleton | Pinkerton Academy | Derry, New Hampshire
"Peacekeepers of Tomorrow"
Coordinator: Steven A. Rodrick
Lauren is currently a junior at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire, where she is currently earning her Pinkerton Honors Diploma. She is a captain and three-year veteran of the varsity cross-country team and a competitor in outdoor track. When Lauren is not enjoying obscure music and British television, she can often be found writing, running, or volunteering. As a Member of New Hampshire Peace Action, PrioritiesNH and the American Friends Service Committee, she is working to establish a Peace Club at her high school. Lauren is a member of the National Honor Society, and was recently invited to the Junior Statesmen of America program. She aspires to major in political science and find a career where she can work for world peace.
New Jersey
Jonathan M. Emont | Ridgewood High School | Ridgewood, New Jersey
"When Peace Arrives"
Coordinator: Eve J. Mensch
Jon lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where he attends Ridgewood High School. He leads his school's Young Democrats club, and plays varsity tennis. He is also an active member of Ridgewood's political debate club, and recently won the Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest for New Jersey. During the fall of 2006 Jon volunteered for the campaign of his local congressional candidate, and takes full responsibility for an eight-point rise in the candidate's ratings (although of course the candidate's eventual defeat had nothing to do with him). He does not know where he will attend college, but knows that he will not be majoring in mathematics. He hopes to become a writer, as most lawyers do when they are young.
New Mexico
No winner was selected for New Mexico. We strongly encourage teachers and students from New Mexico to participate in next year's contest.
New York
Cathy X. Sun | Williamsville East High School | East Amherst, New York
"Building a future: the holistic approach to the reintegration of child soldiers"
Coordinator: Wang Xinhui
Cathy is currently attending Williamsville East High School, near Buffalo, New York. She is the editor-in-chief of both her school newspaper The East Side and the school yearbook, The Spark, and thus spends most of her time devoted to these two passions. In her free time, Cathy enjoys singing opera, painting and drawing, and watching the news. She’s also rather obsessed with reading Russian literature and thinking about national identity in a somewhat introspective way. She interns at Hillary Clinton’s office in Buffalo, and plans to study at Harvard University in the fall.
North Carolina
Christine M. Zagrobelny | Cardinal Gibbons High School | Raleigh, North Carolina
"Child Soldiers in Uganda and Sierra Leone"
Coordinator: Ms. Pamela Heyl
Christine is a senior at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Theater is her passion, and she has enjoyed acting in school, community and professional productions throughout her high school career. She is a National Merit Commended Student and a member of the National Honor Society. Her favorite subjects are literature, history and philosophy. In the fall, Christine plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill.
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