Print2009-2010 Winners' Biographies
This is a list of the 2009-2010 National Peace Essay Contest Winners' biographies.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Alabama
Smriti B. Krishnan | Spain Park High School | Birmingham, Alabama
Coordinator: Mr. Krishnan Raman
I live near Birmingham, Alabama the once-renowned steel production site of America. I am quite sure of the profession I wish to take up after my sojourn in high school: an ophthalmologist. Being involved in the community is quite important to me. One can learn so much simply by actively participating in the community. Therefore, I volunteer at our local library and the science center with the children. In the Asian Indian community, I understand and take pride in my roots and participate in several traditional activities. I have been studying Bharatnatyam (South Indian classical dance) for ten years now, and have completed my debut:
http://blog.al.com/mhuebner/2009/08/arangetram_a_rite_of_passage_f.html. I have been fortunate enough to receive several honors: an invitation to the Spanish Honor Society, the National Forensic League Honor Society and the Finley Character Recognition award.
Alaska
Jessica L. Countryman | IDEA Homeschool, PA Homeschoolers Online | Kenai, Alaska
Coordinator: Ms. Niki Countryman
I'm Jessica Countryman, a 16-year-old from the small town of Nikiski, Alaska, and I'm a Junior in high school. Living in Alaska, I am surrounded by overwhelming beauty. I live and breathe music; I've played piano for nine years, acoustic guitar for a year and I love to sing. In 1999, when I was six-years-old, my family moved to Indonesia. We spent four amazing years there, and though our time there was short, the Papuan people instilled in me a strong passion for other cultures. The people, music, traditions, language(s) and especially the children of different cultures pull strongest upon my hearts' strings. After graduating high school, I hope to pursue a master's degree in Speech Language Pathology with a minor in Music. Such a profession would allow me to enable kids from all around the world to gain the self-confidence that comes with speaking for oneself.
Arizona
Candace J. Evilsizor | North High School | Phoenix, Arizona
Coordinator: Ms. Virginia Tennyson, Ph.D
Candace Evilsizor is a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at North High School. Though she has lived her entire life in Phoenix, AZ, her interests have always been international. In 2008, she was part of an informal group that studied Islamic culture and visited Pakistan. They talked with locals in hopes of creating peace through learning about a different worldview. Candace has been involved in the efforts of the Invisible Children organization, which is dedicated to spreading awareness and inciting activism around child soldiers trapped in Uganda’s civil war. A passionate lover of knowledge, Candace hopes to pursue an education in Peace and Conflict Resolution and one day work in the peacekeeping field. Her other interests include paying oboe, reading and spending time with friends.
Arkansas
Katie E. Schoen | Pulaski Academy | Little Rock, Arkansas
Coordinators: Mr. William Topich, Ms. Ginger Kid, and Ms. Keena Vellance
Katie Schoen is a senior at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is Co-President of the St. James United Methodist Church Youth Leadership Team, as well as President of Thespian Society at school. She is an AP Scholar, member of National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the Interact club. Katie loves acting both at her school and in her community, and she also is an active member of her church’s youth program. She balances academics with hobbies such as reading, writing, acting, and community service. She first developed an interest in international affairs after visiting Mexico with her church, which later led her to begin projects such as submitting papers to the National Peace Essay Contest and the Concord Review. Katie plans to study broadcast journalism, english literature, and theater in the Honors College at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She wishes to continue her study in international policies, especially women’s movements, and hopes to visit and teach in a developing foreign country before she graduates.
California
Margaret E. Hardy | Lick-Wilmerding High School | San Francisco, California
Coordinator: Ms. Elizabeth Dent
I am junior at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. My main academic interests are history and politics, which I hope to pursue in college. This will be my second trip to Washington, where I worked as a page in the House of Representatives last summer. I am very fond of food and gardening, and I respond to stories about soil erosion and monoculture farming with great alarm. This has led me to volunteer at a local organic farming co-op most weekends. I also participate in my school’s Community Action Club, and this year I ran a small fundraiser for earthquake relief in Haiti at school. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking and riding the zip line in my backyard with my brother Michael. I would like to thank my cousin Emily, my friends
and Mr. Jack Jackson for supporting me during this stressful but rewarding academic year.
Colorado
Katherine E. Poling | Mountain Vista High School | Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Coordinator: Ms. Doreen Smith
Katherine Elizabeth Poling is a senior at Mountain Vista High School. She is heavily involved in theatre and music, and is pursuing a degree in acting at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in Fall, 2010. Katherine is a National Merit Finalist and an AP Scholar in Mountain Vista's National Honor Society. Throughout high school, she has spent most of her time in the theatre department, acting, performing technical roles, and even directing. Katherine also hopes to pursue political science in college, and plans to pursue acting as a social vehicle throughout her life.
Connecticut
Sarah K. Melville | Woodland Regional High School | Beacon Falls, Connecticut
Coordinator: Ms. Deborah Flaherty
Sarah Melville is a passionate ideologue, activist, student, runner and singer. She grew up in Beacon Falls, Connecticut and Centennial, Colorado. She will study international relations and build a career focusing on solving world problems such as human trafficking, poverty, maternal mortality and the oppression of women. She is a year-round varsity athlete with cross country and track and a current track captain. She is Chief Justice of the Woodland Regional Student Council and a founding member of Woodland for Women Worldwide; an activist group currently raising money for the Somaly Mam Foundation and the Campaign for Female Education. She is involved in three honor societies, Beacon Falls Leo’s Club and WRHS Media. She is the female 2010 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete for Woodland Regional High School. She aspires to what Archimedes said, “Give me but one firm spot on which to stand and I will move the earth.”
Florida
Franklin T. Kowal | East Ridge High School | Clermont, Florida
Coordinator: Mr. Grant Mollett
Frank was born in Illinois and moved to Florida before beginning middle school. He is a junior at East Ridge High School and is involved in many clubs. He is a part of the men’s varsity soccer team, Rho Kappa and is a Junior Officer for the National Honor Society. He was a captain of his school’s JV academic team for a short time before being promoted to being a key player on the varsity squad. He is a triplet and is very academically hard working, making a 5 on the AP Biology exam as a freshman. Frank also plans on attending the Florida Boy’s State program in July. He is undecided on choice of college, but wants to pursue a degree in chemical engineering.
Georgia
Mark A. Boltri | Mount de Sales Academy | Macon, Georgia
Coordinator: Mr. Nash Mayfield
I am a senior at Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, Georgia, where I have lived for the past 13 years. I am actively involved in music—I have participated in the Mount de Sales marching and concert bands for the past 6 years, and have been a member of the Mercer/Macon Symphony Youth Orchestra for several seasons. I have been nominated to several state-wide bands, including the GISA All-Select Wind Ensemble and the January Music Festival at UGA. Some other achievements include induction into the National Honor Society, recognition by the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association, and acknowledgement as the STAR Student for the central Georgia region. This fall, I plan to attend the University of Georgia Honors Program with an undeclared major.
Hawaii
Jessica B. Ignacio | Hawaii Baptist Academy | Honolulu, Hawaii
Coordinator: Ms. Diane Hom
My name is Jessica Ignacio. I am a senior at Hawaii Baptist Academy (Honolulu, Hawaii). I live is Waipahu, Hawaii. After high school, I plan to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa and major in Social Work. At present, I am involved with the National Honor Society, Servant Group and I am the president of the school’s Interact Club. There are many community activities that I am involved with through these clubs: feeling the homeless, tutoring elementary school students and cleaning up graffiti in the community.
Idaho
Jeb Flood | Clearwater Valley High School | Kooskia, Idaho
Coordinator: Ms. Matti Sand
Jeb Flood is a sophomore at Clearwater Valley High School in Kooskia, Idaho. He enjoys reading, playing video games, playing chess, and skiing. Jeb competed in this years’ State Drama Competition and performed in two school plays. He is interested in traveling and pursuing a career in the arts.
Illinois
Erica L. Hinz | Belleville East High School | Bellville, Illinois
Coordinator: Ms. Rebekah McGarrity
I live in Fairview Heights, IL, which is about half an hour from St. Louis, Missouri. I enjoy reading, watching movies, going to concerts and plays, hanging out in St. Louis, going on adventures with my friends, baking, and making art and jewelry. I am a senior at Belleville East High School where I am very active in theatre and many other clubs. I love theatre, and I do set crew for the school plays and am Head of the Set Design. I am also in NABT BioClub, Ecology Club, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Thespian Honor Society, Art Club, and German Club. I am also an English and Math tutor, and I have received several awards for art and academics. I am very excited to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall, where I will major in Biology.
Indiana
Henry Zhu | Carmel High School | Carmel, Indiana
Coordinator: Mr. Ryan Ringenberg
My name is Henry Zhu and I currently live in Carmel, Indiana and I am a sophomore at Carmel High School. At my school, I participate in several extracurricular activities, from being in the school orchestra to writing for the school paper to running on the track team. My hobbies include reading, listing to and playing music, running and volunteering. I do volunteer work as a tutor for younger children in math outside of school and help run the school’s UNICEF club, where we work to raise money to help impoverished children from around the world. As for plans after high school, I am not really sure which college to attend or what major to pursue, but I am interested in perhaps studying law or political science. I am interested in international politics and I believe participating in the National Peace Essay Contest has broadened my horizons for the future.
Iowa
Alexander L. Kramer | West Des Moines Valley High School | West Des Moines, Iowa
Coordinator: Mr. Rob Schebel
Alex Kramer is currently a senior at Valley High School in West Des Moines, IA. Next fall, he will attend Drake University in Des Moines, IA, and major in physics. At Valley, he is an honors student, National Merit Finalist, and varsity Lincoln-Douglas debater. His favorite pastimes include photography, web design, and discussing philosophy.
Kansas
Jiemin (Tina) Wei | Blue Valley Norht High School | Overland Park, Kansas
Coordinator: Ms. Michele Buche
Jiemin Wei, who also goes by "Tina," is a sophomore at Blue Valley North High School. Having lived in China and Thailand, she embraces her diverse culture. An active member of Latin Club, community service club, Concert Band, Symphonic Orchestra, FBLA, Student Government, Environmental Club, and a nationally ranked Debate and Forensics Team, Tina received a perfect score on the National Latin Exam and consistently placed at FBLA State Leadership Conferences, State Latin Conventions, State Ecology-Meets, and Mid-America Music Festivals in Piano. She also won several Debate and Forensics Tournaments and participated in the National History Day competition. Tina loves spending quality time with people she cares about. She volunteers at the library, Youth Court, and food pantries, earning over 600 service hours. Next year, she plans on taking 5 AP classes and teaching a workshop on Chinese language and culture. In twenty years, she sees herself working to positively impact society.
Kentucky
Paige B. Brewer | Notre Dame Academy | Park Hills, Kentucky
Coordinator: Ms. Emily Sampson
I am an honors student at Notre Dame Academy near Cincinnati, Ohio. I am an active member of the Student Council and the Speech and Drama team. I am also a member of the National Honors Society, various other school clubs and I volunteer at a center that cares for people with disabilities. My interests include public speaking and creative writing and I have won numerous awards in both categories. I am passionate about politics and American history, which I plan to pursue in college. I am excited to attend Kentucky’s Governor’s Scholar Program this summer.
Maine
Brett P. Davisson | Wells High School | Wells, Maine
Coordinator: Ms. Catherine Madden
Brett lives in Wells Maine and is a freshman at Wells High School. His interests include writing, photography and American History. His activities include playing basketball on the school team, statistician for the school’s JV baseball team, volunteering at the town’s weekly newspaper, member of the school newspaper, Spanish club, civil rights club and is the high school’s morning sports announcer. Past achievements include first place winner of the “Maine Native American History and Culture Essay Contest” and national first place winner of the “Celebrating Darwin Student Essay Contest.” Brett was also recognized in March 2010 as a New England Super Teen by nestSTEP magazine. Brett plans to pursue a career in government and journalism.
Maryland
Tianhao He | Walter Johnson High School | Bethesda, Maryland
Coordinator: Mr. Stephen Miller
Tianhao is a junior at Walter Johnson High School and is the captain of his school’s mock trial and Lincoln-Douglas debate teams. He also competes on the speech team in the category of extemporaneous speaking. Through competing in speech and debate, Tianhao has earned a Degree of Distinction from the National Forensics League. In addition, he plays varsity baseball and is a member of three national honor societies. This past fall, Tianhao led a team from his school to the Top 32 of the International Public Policy Forum debate competition sponsored by Bickel & Brewer Law Firm and New York University. Recently, a history research paper that Tianhao wrote was published in the Spring 2010 issue of The Concord Review, a prestigious quarterly journal that publishes the academic work of high school students. After high school, Tianhao plans on studying international relations, economics, or law.
Massachusetts
Jason C. Mazzella | Weston High School | Weston, Massachusetts
Coordinator: Mr. Joseph Mazzella
Jason Mazzella resides in Weston, Massachusetts with his parents, older sister, and his dog, Figgy. He is a junior at Weston High School and plans to attend college in the fall of 2011. In addition to serving as a student council representative and playing the trumpet, Jason has played first singles on the varsity tennis team, is a member of the National Honor Society, and is involved with literacy tutoring in Boston. Jason has traveled to China and much of Europe as a member of American Music Abroad. During the summer, he is a member of the counselor training program at Cape Cod Sea Camps. Throughout his high school career, Jason has received awards of excellence in english, math, and biology as well as a nomination for the National Council of Teachers of English writing distinction.
Michigan
Jennifer Y. Lu| Detroit Country Day School | Beverly Hills, Michigan
Coordinator: Mr. Donald Corwin
< Jennifer is a senior at Detroit Country Day School where she is Captain of the Forensics Team and plays on the Women’s Varsity Ice Hockey Team. She is also a Red Cross Volunteer, but her pride lies in DECLARE, a group that organizes concerts for charity. Jennifer founded DECLARE in 2009 and it is through this group that she’s able to combine her love of music, her talent in business, and the influence of local bands to help raise money and awareness. She spends every summer in Taiwan and speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently. In the fall of 2010, Jennifer will attend Johns Hopkins University, which will hopefully lead to a career in medicine.
Minnesota
Theo R. Anderson | Elk River High School | Elk River, Minnesota
Coordinator: Ms. Denise Eidem
Theo Anderson is a junior at Elk River High School. He is the youngest of eight children. Theo is a member of the National Honor Society and the Minnesota Mathematics League, but is most interested in Mock Trial. Theo enjoys his family, cooking, his trampoline, board games, his cats, video games, rock, and acting. His favorite book is 1984 and his favorite bands are the Beatles and the Who.
Mississippi
Gergo D. Arany | Madison Central High School | Madison, Mississippi
Coordinator: Ms. Susan Shinvers
Gergo is a senior at Madison Central High School in Madison, MS. Originally from Minneapolis, MN, Gergo has lived in Texas and Arkansas before moving to Mississippi. A co-captain of the school’s swim team, he helped motivate his teammates to a 3rd place victory at the State competition. Along with sports, Gergo is the secretary of the Students for a Better America Club at his school. In his free time, Gergo enjoys playing guitar, riding skateboards and listening to heavy music. After high school, he will attend the University of Mississippi to study psychology.
Missouri
Connor G. Perkins | PA Homeschoolers Online | Ballwin, Missouri
Coordinator: Ms. Allison Perkins
My name is Connor Perkins and I am a home-schooled junior in high school from Ballwin, MO. I anticipate double majoring in History and either Leadership Studies or Economics in college. After college, my goal is to attend law school and from there, I would like to pursue a career in law or politics. I am currently the president of the St. Louis Teen Eagles, a group of teens who strive to develop leadership kills through involvement in the political arena. In leading this group, I have lobbied at the Missouri State Capital Building and the United Nations in New York. I have also campaigned for numerous candidates on state and national levels. I also love combining a passion for theater with a passion for working with children, which I do by teaching multiple drama classes to young people in my community. I am excited to have the opportunity to attend this event!
Montana
Lisa G. Woerlein | Hellgate High School | Missoula, Montana
Coordinator: Mr. S. Redfern and Ms. M. Bryant
Lisa lives in Missoula, Montana and is very involved in her community, both through sports and community service. She is the NHS President, Key Club VP and an intern at the United States of Hope. Lisa plays varsity volleyball and tennis, as well as club volleyball and has earned All-State recognitions for volleyball. This fall, Lisa is attending Washington University in St. Louis with plans to major in Math and International & Area Studies.
Nebraska
Wyatt N. Troia | Creighton Preparatory School | Omaha, Nebraska
Coordinator: Ms. Kimberly Meyer
Wyatt Troia is a senior at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska. His favorite activity during high school has been serving as a Core Leader of Operation Others, an organization that delivers two weeks’ worth of food to over 1600 underprivileged families in the Omaha metro area. In 2008 he founded at Creighton Prep a chapter of No Place For Hate, an Anti-Defamation League-sponsored program designed to combat prejudice and promote tolerance in schools. Since then he has been traveling to Omaha elementary schools with friends with an original anti-prejudice lesson plan, so far speaking to more than 400 students. He ran track and swam at the varsity level and plays the trumpet. In his free time he enjoys hanging out with his friends, parks, and music. His favorite book is The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. He plans to concentrate in government at Harvard University.
Nevada
Gyu Yeun Kim | Palo Verde High School | Las Vegas, Nevada
Coordinator: Ms. Mary Johnson
Gyu Yeun Kim is a freshman at Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas, NV. She is a student of the Highly Gifted Program in Clark County. She enjoys music and is very active in her world-class choir; she recently performed toured and performed in Italy with them over spring break. She was selected to be in the Clark Choir School District Honor Choir as a soprano 2. She also participated in State Solo and Ensemble, and earned an excellent rating. Reading, writing and traveling are some of her hobbies. She hopes to attend an Ivy League school and continue on to medical school in order to become a surgeon. She would like to thank her family for their support and her inspirational English teacher, Ms. Mary Johnson, for her guidance.
New Hampshire
Safiya J. Subegdjo | Alvirne High School | Hudson, New Hampshire
Coordinator: Mr. M. Jeffrey DiPrizito
Safiya is a junior attending Alvirne High School. There, she is involved in her Model United Nations club, school newspaper, and National, Spanish, and Tri-M Music Honors Societies. She has played the flute for seven years and is in her school’s marching and concert band. Safiya was elected class president her freshman year and has also served as a student government representative for three consecutive years. She plays her favorite sport, volleyball, on her school’s varsity team. In 2009, her Academic Decathlon team won the state championship with Safiya winning two medals. Safiya is a volunteer counselor at her local YMCA where she mentors students in an afterschool program. In the future, she hopes to study biomedical engineering and international relations, and also aspires to be a volunteer for Doctors Without Borders.
New Jersey
Rachel A. Waltman | Tenafly High School | Tenafly, New Jersey
Coordinator: Ms. Naomi Waltman
Rachel is a junior at Tenafly High School in Tenafly, New Jersey. She is active in her school’s Peer Leadership Program, the Principal’s Cabinet, and the Impact Ambassadors Program. She also serves as the treasurer of her school’s Model United Nations Club, and is a member of the Spanish Club, the Tutoring Club, and the Task Force, which sponsors events for underprivileged children. For the past four years, Rachel has volunteered as a classroom assistant in a community program for autistic children. For her volunteer efforts, Rachel was honored with a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and also received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Last summer, Rachel was selected to participate in the High School Diplomats program, a cross-cultural exchange program with 40 Japanese high school students at Princeton University. She also was one of 25 high school students selected to participate in Stanford’s Reischauer Scholars Program, which provides an intensive study of U.S.-Japan relations. Rachel also was chosen as one of the 25 outstanding high school juniors in the Tomorrow25 international leadership competition. Rachel plans to study Romance Languages or International Relations in college.
New Mexico
Allen T. Wu | Los Alamos High School | Los Alamos, New Mexico
Coordinator: Ms. Ming Wu
Allen Wu is amused at how often a vague self-awareness is used when writing biographies in the third person, but is so enamored with the concept that he ignores whatever conscious rejection. He is a junior at Los Alamos High School in New Mexico, and spends most of his time reading and writing. His favorite author is probably, as pretentious as the choice, Kurt Vonnegut. Allen is a member of the National Honor Society. He enjoys participating in Science Bowl, and is a member of the 2010 national team for New Mexico. As more frivolous pursuits, he plays chess and does math, placing occasionally in competitions. He was a 2009 AP Scholar. He programs occasionally, and writes short stories, winning a gold key at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards earlier in the year. Futura is his favorite font. When Your Heartstrings Break is playing as he writes this. Allen hopes to study economics, with an eye toward creative writing of some sort.
New York
Jenny Choi | Hunter College High School | New York, New York
Coordinator: Ms. Rosa Choi
Jenny is a sophomore attending Hunter College High School, in New York, NY. Ever since she set foot in school politics, law and politics became her main interests. She developed a love for representing people wherever she had a chance to: as a student panelist at a PTA meeting, a senator for her school government, a member of her grade council, and a lawyer on her mock trial team. As she became deeper involved in the world of politics, both inside and outside of school, she began to notice the lack of women generally on the political stage. Ever since, she has been preparing herself in order to step out to the larger community and make an impact on this issue. She loves reading about women’s rights and great women in politics. She writes for her school newspaper and her hobbies include swimming and playing the violin. She plans to major in political science and women’s studies before entering law school.
North Carolina
Alicia B. Fish | Ravenscroft School | Raleigh, North Carolina
Coordinator: Ms. Mary Beth Immediata
Alicia is a senior at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC. Alicia enjoys horseback riding and traveling. She is a member of a French club, is on the youth board at her church and volunteers with her church and other organizations, such as the Special Olympics. Alicia is very involved with student athletic training and helps with hair and make-up at school plays. Alicia has won 1st place for a piece submitted to the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association. Alicia plans to take a gap year in Nepal to volunteer at a Nepal orphans’ home. In the Fall 2011, she will attend McDaniel College in Maryland.
North Dakota
Anjali K. Lall | South Campus II | Fargo, North Dakota
Coordinator: Mr. Vinod Lall
Anjali Lall in Fargo, North Dakota and is a freshman at Fargo South Campus II. She plays the cello in her school orchestra and is an active member of student council. Anjali also likes to dance and is a part of her school’s Speech, Debate and Student Congress teams. She won the national qualifying tournament in Student Congress in June 2010. Volunteering is important to Anjali and she volunteers as a lab assistant at her school, where she helps her science teachers arrange experiments for students to conduct. Latin is Anjali’s favorite language, so she is one the officers in her school’s Latin club. She scored well on the 2010 National Latin Exam and was a gold medalist. After high school, Anjalu plans to pursue a career in either medicine or politics.
Ohio
Isaac LaRue | Amanda-Clearcreek High School | Amanda, Ohio
Coordinator: Ms. Judith Groff
Isaac LaRue is a senior at Amanda-Clearcreek High School in Amanda, Ohio. He has been involved in his school through varsity athletics, Academic Challenge, band, and student government. He was a 2009 Buckeye Boy’s State delegate and volunteers for Special Olympics in his community. Isaac is also an Eagle Scout and valedictorian of his senior class. After graduation, Isaac plans to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Oklahoma
Claire L. Walker | Booker T. Washington High School | Tulsa, Oklahoma
Coordinator: Ms. Susan Walker
Claire is a senior at Booker T. Washington High School High, where she is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate diploma. She is a National Merit Finalist and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She is also a member of the National Honor Society Executive Board and the homecoming court. Claire’s club soccer team, HFC 92 Shubert, is the four-time Oklahoma state champion state champion. She is the leading scorer on her high school team, where she was the outstanding offensive player in 2009 and all-district in 2008 and 2009. She was also named to the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar All-Region Team, and the Oklahoma Olympic Development Team. Claire has run varsity cross-country for four years and volunteered in the Big Brothers big Sisters program for two years. She will attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she will play varsity soccer and major in public health.
Oregon
Lisa C. Wilson | Valley Catholic School | Beaverton, Oregon
Coordinator: Ms. Marty Karlin
Overseas School
Sally R. Rymer | Mahindra United World College of India | Taluka Mulshi, District Pune, India
Coordinator: Mr. David Rymer
Sally Rymer is currently a junior at Mahindra United World College of India, located outside the city of Pune, India. She is a member of several school activities including yoga, religion discussion, and environmental protection activity. She also coordinates a group of students who play with children at an AIDS home each week. Sally also enjoys reading, baking, and gardening. Over the summer, Sally will be working with an NGO in Calcutta to help establish a jewelry training program that will equip survivors of sex trafficking with vocational skills. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a degree in social work and focus her career on combating human trafficking.
Pennsylvania
Sara J. Luecke | PA Homeschoolers Online | Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Coordinator: Mr. Paul Luecke
Sara Jo is a high school junior, and has been homeschooled for the majority of her school career. She has many interests, including science, art, music, photography, and literature. She works at a a horse stable exercising show horses, and enjoys playing the piano and guitar. She also enjoys traveling, and has visited France, England, and Italy. She is active in her church, and serves as an assistant counselor at a pre-teen camp. Sara Jo plans to attend college after high school, but is currently undecided on her major.
Rhode Island
Francesca M. Bessey | Portsmouth Abbey School | Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Coordinator: Mr. David Bessey
I’m Francesca Bessey and I’m from Canton, Michigan though I was originally born in Canada. For the past three years, I’ve attended a coed catholic boarding high school in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Most of the activities I do are centered around my life here: I play squash, run for the varsity track team, participate in the fall play every year, play French horn in the school orchestra, write a student blog, help to run the school’s community service club, and do a lot of work for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). I also am an assisting editor for my school newspaper and a member of informal debate and book clubs. Aside from these things, my interests are reading, writing, and doing things with my friends- whether walking around campus taking pictures or going to movies and dances. Essentially, I just love to be busy and I definitely almost always am!
South Carolina
Lisa Johns | Irmo High School | Columbia, South Carolina
Coordinator: Ms. Jan McCarthy
Lisa is a senior at Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina Honors College in the fall with a major in business administration. She is highly involved in the dance and colorguard team at her school and both the youth and music programs at her church. She plays bassoon for various school and church ensembles and has qualified for the South Carolina Region Band for the past six years. Lisa is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Beta Club and is treasurer of the Society for Irmo Service Club. She is a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program as well as an AP Scholar. She is the Assistant Coordinator of the Math Buddies Program at a local elementary school, where she volunteers weekly.
South Dakota
Jacob A. Clark | Watertown High School | Watertown, South Dakota
Coordinator: Ms. Gretchen Ross
Jacob is a junior at Watertown High School in Watertown, South Dakota. His participation with his high school’s speech and debate team sparked his interest in current events and international relations. Jacob is a state champion in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking and a state runner-up in Policy Debate. He will be competing this summer at the National Forensics League Tournament in Kansas City in Policy Debate. Jacob also enjoys spending time as a member of his high school student senate, the community foundation Youth Council, and the local National Honor Society. In his undergraduate studies, Jacob plans to major in international relations and economics. After his undergraduate degree, Jacob hopes to continue working closely with international affairs as an analyst or correspondent.
Tennessee
Danielle L. Chirumbole | Girls Preparatory School | Chattanooga, Tennessee
Coordinator: Ms. Kathleen Berotti
Danielle Chirumbole is a junior at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has played soccer since the age of four and is a member of her school’s varsity soccer team as well as a member of the varsity lacrosse team. Danielle is very interested in the sciences and has participated in Science Olympiad competitions since the seventh grade. Danielle enjoys her duties as the junior class secretary and looks forward to serving as senior class vice president next year. Additionally, she has become involved in community service through her school’s Key Club, is a member of the National Honor Society, and is a member of the Beta Club. After high school, she hopes to study biomedical engineering and eventually become a doctor.
Doreen Xu | Baylor School | Chattanooga, Tennessee
Coordinator: Ms. Sophia Wang
Doreen Xu is a senior at Baylor School. She currently lives in Georgia but goes to school in Chattanooga, Tennessee and has lived in three countries and six states in her lifetime. Academically, she is a National AP Scholar, a National Merit Finalist, and a Davidson Fellow in philosophy, among other achievements. She is mostly interested in the humanities, with special passions for philosophy, economics, languages, and international affairs. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys starting and leading local community service programs, debating in her school team, playing lacrosse and swimming, editing all three school publications, and a wide spectrum of activities in between. Doreen is extremely excited for her college years and the future and plans to pursue her interests in economics and international relations, but also looks forward to a relaxing summer.
Texas
Amber Martin | Nimitz Senior High School | Houston, Texas
Coordinator: Ms. Nicole Martin
Amber Martin is a junior at Nimitz High School who is enrolled in both Advanced Placement and Gifted and Talent courses. In the summers following her 7th grade, 8th grade, and 10th grade years, she participated in the Duke Talent Identification Program. She has also volunteered her time at a local library. Amber’s passion is writing, and in 2009 she was awarded 3rd place in the high school division of a short story writing competition. In 2010 she was awarded an Honor Roll Award by the United States Achievement Academy. Following graduation, she plans on studying Creative Writing and Film Studies at a four year university and eventually pursuing a Master’s while donating her time to just causes and volunteering.
U.S. Territories
Emmanuel Carrodeguas | Academia del Perpetuo Socorro | San Juan, Puerto Rico
Coordinator: Ms. Marie Gillette
Emmanuel was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he enrolled in la Academia del Perpetuo Socorro during 4th grade. There he has worked as the technical editor of the School Journal and as the vice-president for the Math and Computer Clubs. He has also participated in varied community service activities, such as fundraisers and marathons, with different school organizations. He is an amateur magician and has an interest in scuba diving. During the summer of his junior year, he attended MITES, a science and engineering program at MIT, where he obtained a program-wide award. His interests have always been in the sciences and he is fascinated by how they can be used to solve different problems and issues. He plans to study biomedical engineering in order to later pursue a career in medicine where he hopes to use his talent to help others.
Utah
Yen T. Nguyen | Davis High School | Kaysville, Utah
Coordinator: Ms. Wendy Dau
Born in California, Yen Nguyen now currently resides in Layton, Utah, just twenty minutes north of Salt Lake City. An honors student at Davis High School, she enjoys reading, studying and spending time with her family and friends. Yen also enjoys playing the piano, something she has done for ten years, receiving superior ratings in annual solo and ensemble festivals. Yen is the Secretary of her school’s Key Club, is in the Science Olympiad, involved in Operation Smile, the National Honor Society and Chemistry Club. Volunteering weekly at the local hospital, Yen looks forward to attending university in Fall 2011 to study in a science or math related field in the hopes of enter medical school to become a pediatrician.
Vermont
Julia Stickney | Vermont Academy | Saxtons River, Vermont
Coordinator: Mr. John Bohannon
Julia Stickney is a senior at Vermont Academy in her hometown in Saxtons River. Julia has been extensively involved in student government at Vermont Academy and served as the captain of her soccer, hockey and lacrosse teams. Julia is interested in language studies and has traveled to Spain and Ecuador to further her education in the Spanish language. Julia is looking forward to attending the University of Vermont in the fall.
Virginia
Noah B. Pisner | Robinson Secondary School | Fairfax, Virginia
Coordinator: Mr. Peter Kownacki
I’ve been raised in one of the most politically and culturally active places in the world: Fairfax, Virginia. Living in the outskirts of Washington, DC has exposed me to ongoing political dialogue among people who are passionate about issues ranging from education policies to environmental preservation to recognition of global unrest among the citizenry of the international community. With this setting, it is not surprising that I have developed a broad range of interests in these types of issues. I am a BSA Eagle Scout, a full International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, vice president of the Student Advisory Council for Fairfax County Public Schools, an active member of the Sierra Club, secretary of National Honor Society, and the founder and president of my high school’s Environmental Club. Upon graduation, I plan to attend an out-of-state college where I will continue to pursue my interests in both local and global matters.
Washington
Jenny Gao | Aviation High School | Des Moines, Washington
Coordinator: Mr. John Gao
Jenny, a resident in Renton, Washington, is a sophomore at Aviation High School. She is an active member of her school’s ASB, Rotary-Interact Club, Speech and Debate team, National Honor Society, Leadership, and Science Olympiad. Jenny has competed at state in Science Olympiad and placed each year. Her involvement in Speech and Debate has sparked her interest in writing, debating, and current world events. In her spare time, Jenny likes to read, jog, watch the discovery channel, bake, and play piano and violin. She is a member of her local library book club and the Renton Youth Symphony Orchestra. After high school, she will attend college and explore the career fields of engineering and business.
Wisconsin
Gunnar S. Raasch | Milwaukee High School of the Arts | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Coordinator: Ms. Katherine Katter
Gunnar Raasch is a Junior creative writing major at Milwaukee High School of the Arts. He is an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and hopes to earn his Eagle Scout Award relatively soon. He plays varsity hockey for the SHAW Timberwolves. Gunnar also was the first place winner in the Milwaukee-wide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech Competition in 2009. He plans to graduate from MHSA next year as a double major (he will be a theatre major next year, as well) and hopes to attend college to study creative writing.
Wyoming
Bryce Sapp | Worland High School | Worland, Wyoming
Coordinator: Mr. Tim McGee
Bryce hails from a small Wyoming village situated in the barren foothills of the Big Horns. This remote location lent itself well to a number of outdoor pursuits, as well as mandolin picking and an intensive study of the works of Thomas McGuane. This year Bryce will be graduating from high school summa cum barely and heading off to college, where he hopes to combat his "chronic underachieving" tendencies studying medicine and foreign language. He has a big belief in the transformative power of humor, poetry, new perspectives, and corduroy pants.