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Winners' Biographies
North Dakota
No winner was selected for North Dakota. We strongly encourage teachers and students from North Dakota to participate in next year's contest.
Ohio
Erin L. Cochran | Amanda Clearcreek High School | Amanda, Ohio
"Somalia and Nazi Germany: Reintegrating Violent Youth Into a Peaceful Society"
Coordinator: Ms. Anita Conkel
Erin is Vice-President of the Student Council and Senior Class Secretary at Amanda Clearcreek High School. She is also the Secretary of her school's National Honor Society chapter, a member of the Science club, and a participant in the Stay Tobacco-Free Athlete Mentor Program--where she actively mentors students in tobacco prevention. Outside of school, she holds not one but two part-time jobs: waitressing at a local pizzeria and helping run the family Christmas Tree farm. She will graduate as co-valedictorian and attend Otterbein College in Westerville, OH, majoring in Art with a concentration in Visual Communication and Photography.
Oklahoma
Rachel A. Feist | Jenks High School | Jenks, Oklahoma
"Let Them Be Children"
Coordinator: Mr. Eric Fox
A sophomore at Jenks High School, Rachel is a model student-athlete. She is constantly running, whether it be down the halls to class or with the varsity cross-country team. This past year, Rachel was part of the 2006 5A State Champion Cross-Country team. Playing the piano is also one of her many passions. Outside of school, she is very active in her youth group, where she enjoys leading worship. Leadership is another prominent part of Rachel's life, and she is active in the Jenks Student Council, National Honor Society, and the United Methodist Leadership Camp C.Y.M.E. After high school she plans to attend college and further explore God's will for her life. As she continues to aspire in all aspects of her life, she strives to reflect her lord and savior, Jesus Christ, to whom she gives all the glory.
Oregon
Sarah A. Imel | Valley Catholic School | Beaverton, Oregon
"The Beginning of Resolution"
Coordinator: Ms. Martha J. Karlin
From Portland, Oregon, Sarah eats current events magazines for breakfast and sings to the radio on her morning commute to Valley Catholic High School. As a junior, she is involved in the Book Club, the Outdoor Club, and the National Honor Society. She loves to volunteer, try new things, and learn about the world. In the fall, Sarah plays soccer for her school and in the spring she runs track. Sarah also loves snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiing, hiking, and kayaking. This year she is hoping to take up surfing for the first time off Oregon's coast. An advocate for exchange programs, Sarah spent all of last July with a host family in the small Spanish town of Vejer de la Frontera. Fascinated with subjects like global studies, psychology, neurology, world religions, literature, and foreign languages, Sarah wants to be an author, journalist or teacher after she graduates from college.
Overseas/International
Rebecca C. Mahar | Presentation Secondary School | Galway City, Ireland
"Total War : An Analysis of Child Soldiery "
Coordinator: Séamus McGuinness
Rebecca is a Transition Year student at Presentation Secondary School in Galway, Ireland. She would have been a junior at A.J. Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska, but instead chose to take the year on an exchange to Ireland. She is an avid writer and history enthusiast, especially in the history of the Celtic peoples. Politics and political philosophy are also areas of great interest to her, and she hopes to advance in next year's American Legion Oratorical Contest. Rebecca is also a varsity swimmer at Diamond High, where she will continue to improve her skills once she returns from Ireland. After graduation, she aspires to either attend Rice University or to return to Ireland to study at Trinity College, Dublin. One of her greatest ambitions is to become fluent "as Gaeilge" (in Irish), though she knows she has a very long way to go. Éirinn agus Gaillimh abú!
Pennsylvania
Elise X. Liu | Fox Chapel Area High School | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
"Saving Children from Combat: Lessons from Mozambique and Sierra Leone "
Coordinator: Xiaohong Wang
Elise attends Fox Chapel High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she is co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and captain of the debate and fencing teams. Active in her community, she volunteers her time in a local women's shelter and co-founded her school chapter of the gay-straight alliance. Her writing has been previously awarded the Grand Prize in the National Endowment for the Humanities' "Idea of America" Essay contest, as well as several local honors. She is an avid Lincoln-Douglas debater, winning the Pennsylvania State Championship and finishing her senior year undefeated locally. She has also played classical piano for twelve years. In her free time, Elise writes poetry and short fiction, attempts to cook ethnic Chinese cuisine, and waits expectantly for the final Harry Potter novel. She hopes to work in international development after studying International Relations and Economics at Harvard University beginning this fall.
Rhode Island
Hannah M. Fine | Moses Brown School | Providence, Rhode Island
"Rwanda and Israel: Different Cases of Child Soldier Usage with Different Implications for the Futures of their Youth"
Coordinator: Lenke H. Wood
Hannah is a junior at Moses Brown School in Providence, RI. She is a three-season varsity runner, an editor for her school newspaper, and a member of her school's Student Alumni Association. She teaches Sunday School and Hebrew School at her temple. Hannah is also very involved with community service, having served as a member of her school's Community Service Board and volunteered at the local Boys and Girls Club for three years. This summer she will spend seven weeks in Ghana, building teacher housing for a school in the remote Upper Volta region. Hannah plans to major in International Relations in college and to have some sort of job that involves global affairs and bettering her community.
South Carolina
Kayla S. Glasscock | Irmo High School | Columbia, South Carolina
"’At an age where some children learn to read...’"
Coordinator: Ms. Jan P. McCarthy
A graduating senior at Irmo High School, Kayla will be attending the College of Charleston next year as an honors student, studying business and French. For now, Kayla is the copy editor of her school's student newspaper and co-captain of the debate team. She was a quarterfinalist in the Lincoln-Douglas debate at the South Carolina State Competition. She is also a member of Beta Club, the National Honor Society, and the French National Honor Society. She has been listed in the National Honor Roll and Who's Who Among American High School Students. Outside of school, Kayla studies classical guitar.
South Dakota
Sonya L. Bilocerkowycz| St. Thomas More High School | Rapid City, South Dakota
"Youth Despair: The Three-Pronged Approach to Peace"
Coordinator: Ms. Ann M. Trucano
Sonya is a senior at St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City. She is looking forward to graduating and has decided to attend the University of Dayton in Ohio. Prompted by her love of reading and writing, Sonya has declared herself an English major and aspires to one day be a journalist, writer, and teacher. Throughout high school she has been an active member in her favorite clubs and organizations, namely the Art Club, French Club, and National Honor Society. Her beloved pastimes include reading, listening to oldies music, writing, going to Mass, painting, and sleeping. Sonya wishes to express gratitude to her English teachers and to the members of the United States Institute of Peace who have made her participation in the National Peace Essay Contest possible.
Tennessee
Kyle C. Mallinak | Dobyns-Bennett High School| Kingsport, Tennessee
"Lord of the Flies: A Comparative Study of Child Soldier Challenges and Responses in Colombia and Liberia "
Coordinator: Fielden C. Kevin
Kyle is a resident of Kingsport, Tennessee; he will graduate from Dobyns-Bennett High School in May 2007. A National Merit Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, Kyle was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by his senior class. For over a decade, Kyle has been involved with youth soccer as a player, volunteer, and referee; he currently holds licenses from both USSF and TSSAA. Kyle is currently a regional director for Junior Statesmen of America He is also the captain of his school's Academic team, which has qualified for the national tournament for two consecutive years. Some of Kyle's academic interests include private military corporations, strategic military organization and procurement, and economic diplomacy. Starting in fall 2007, Kyle will be a McNair Scholar at the University of South Carolina.
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