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Winners' Biographies
Illinois
Kevin M. Neumann | Belleville East High School | Belleville, Illinois
"Water: Preserving Life and Destroying Relations"
Coordinator: Ms. Rebekah McGarrity
Kevin is 18 years old and the oldest son of two children. As of this year, Kevin has resided in Fairview Heights, Illinois, for 16 years. Kevin is finishing up his senior year at Belleville East Township High School. He plans to pursue a bachelors degree in computer science at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. This summer, Kevin hopes to explore outside of Illinois’s borders, and travel across the country. Kevin enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his friends.
Indiana
Benjamin A. Jarvis | Concord High School | Elkhart, Indiana
"The Harms of State Ownership: Privatization as a Means of Preventing Third World Conflict"
Coordinator: Ms. Carol A. Jarvis
Born in the town of Augusta, Georgia, Ben has been a resident of Indiana for over twelve years. He plays the double bass in Concord High School's Orchestra and in the first-band Jazz ensemble, in addition to serving as a senior member of the CHS newspaper staff. Outside of school, he enjoys running, watching his beloved University of Georgia football team, and hanging out with friends. Ben is an avid follower of politics and loyally supports his "boy," Ron Paul. Over the summer, he plans to work and travel as much as he can before heading off to Bloomington to study at Indiana University.
Kansas
Stephan R. Serrano | Topeka West High School | Topeka, Kansas
"A Proactive Approach to the Peaceful Allocation of Natural Resources"
Coordinator: Mr. Michael C. Werner
Stephen is from Topeka, Kansas and is a senior at Topeka West High School. He is the the eldest of four siblings, with two brothers and a sister. Stephen plans on attending the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he will concentrate in International Business and Management. Throughout his high school career, he has been involved in both athletics and academic extra-curricular activities, including soccer, track, debate, and forensics. Stephen is an Academic All-American in both debate and forensics. In the Lincoln Douglas debate he has qualified to participate in the national tournament twice. Stephen is looking forward to representing the T-West Chargers in Las Vegas this summer.
Kentucky
Carrie S. Lierl | Notre Dame Academy | Park Hills, Kentucky
"Fighting Instinct with Intellect and Fire with Water"
Coordinator: Ms. Diana Timmerding
Carrie lives in Northern Kentucky where she is a junior honor student at Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills. She is a member of the Environmental Club and Art Club and has participated on the Academic Team in the district and regional writing competitions. She also participates in her school's community service program by volunteering weekly at a local grade school. She is extremely interested in the written and visual arts and hopes to pursue them throughout her life. Carrie is also very interested in international affairs and will be traveling around Western Europe this summer as a Student Ambassador in the People to People Program for three weeks directly following her trip to Washington. After high school, Carrie plans to travel as much as possible and attend college at an as-yet unknown but assuredly interesting university. She is very excited for the opportunity to participate in the U.S. Institute for Peace program in Washington this summer.
Louisiana
Charles F. Gyer | Vandebilt Catholic High School | Houma, Louisiana
"Effects of Natural Resources on Conflicts in Nigeria and Sierra Leone"
Coordinator: Mr. David R. Gyer
Charles Gyer is an eleventh grade honors student at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, LA. He is president of the student council and a member of the golf and quiz bowl teams. Prior to hurricane Katrina, Charles was an active youth sailor at Southern Yacht Club. Charles is interested in journalism and literature. He is the editor of the school yearbook. Charles enjoys public speaking and acting in local and high school theaters. Charles is also an Eagle Scout. This summer he will attend the Global Issues Seminar at Notre Dame University. Charles will also be involved in an independent cost efficiency study, concerning the allocation of government funds to the South Louisiana area for the purpose of hurricane damage related prevention.
Maine
Aaron J. Allen | Saint Dominic Regional High School | Auburn, Maine
"The Development of Fair, Peaceful, and Effective Use of Natural Resources After a Conflict: The Angolan Civil War and the Persian Gulf War"
Coordinator: Ms. Rosanne Ducey
Aaron Allen is a junior a Saint Dominic Regional High School in Auburn, Maine. He is an honor student and a member of the National Honor Society. Aaron participates in Model United Nations, Amnesty International, and Mock Trial. He plays varsity basketball, baseball, and soccer. This year, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the soccer and basketball teams. In addition, he regularly volunteers in his community. After high school, Aaron plans to pursue a Bachelors and Masters degree.
Maryland
Stephen Oliver | Montgomery Blair High School | Silver Spring, Maryland
"Natural Resources in Sierra and Darfur as Elements of Conflict and Resolution"
Coordinator: Mr. Paul K. Moose
Stephen Oliver was born in Fairfax, Virginia, to two Navy employees. He started school in rural Virginia and later moved back to the suburban D.C. area. At the age of three he won a free trip to the Dominican Republic. He is an avid reader of fantasy novels and history, and a viewer of animes and a doodler. He is a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Massachusetts
Maria-Ines C. Carrera | Newton Country Day School | Newton, Massachusetts
"National and International Oil Conflicts"
Coordinator: Ms. Juliette B. Zener
Maria is a senior at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Newton, Massachusetts, where she is the captain of the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams. This year she was the leading scorer of the Eastern Independent League for soccer. Maria is a member of her school's Science Bowl team, the Worldquest team, the Dollars for Darfur Committee, and the Photojournalism Committee. Maria will attend Stanford University next fall. She is undecided about her major but is interested in studying political science, chemistry, and computer science.
Michigan
Janish Shah | Detroit Country Day School | Beverly Hills, Michigan
"The Water Shortage Crisis: Utilizing Multilateral Coalitions"
Coordinator: Mr. Donald B. Corwin
Janish is a resident of Troy, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit). In high school, he was the editor of his school newspaper, founder of an economics club, and co-captain of the policy debate team. Debate inspired both his passion for international relations as well as this year's NPEC topic of "The Fight Over Water in the Middle East." In his free time, Janish enjoys watching the Lakers, reading non-fiction and philosophy books, playing ping-pong, and hanging out on the lake with his friends during the summer. Janish aspires to enter the business world. He wants to pursue a career on Wall Street and is excited to attend college and see what other opportunities are available.
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