National Peace Essay Contest Winners Announced
(Washington) – The U.S. Institute of Peace today announced the state-level winners of the National Peace Essay Contest (NPEC). Each of the 50 students received an academic scholarship for their essays on "The Impact of New Media on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management."
For 25 years the NPEC has challenged students to evaluate critically the international issues related to the work of the Institute. USIP's Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding Center of Innovation identifies promising new practices, conducts research and develops innovative strategies for applying science and technology to the challenge of peacebuilding in fragile states, active conflict and post-conflict societies.
"This year’s state NPEC winners should be applauded for their thoughtful, critical essays on new media and conflict," commented Pamela Aall, provost of the Institute's Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. "The essay topic encouraged students to think about how the technology they use on daily basis can play an important role in conflict."
In addition to the $1,000 scholarship, each state winner is invited to Washington in June to explore the essay topic in greater depth through simulations, briefings with foreign policy leaders, and meetings with their elected representatives. The national first, second, and third place winners will be announced at the conclusion of the Washington program week.
The 2012 National Peace Essay Contest State Winners are:
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Alabama |
Kentucky Catriona Shaughnessy Notre Dame Academy Park Hills, Kentucky |
Oklahoma Blake Larsen Jenks High School Jenks, Oklahoma |
| Alaska Dylan Hardenbergh South Anchorage High School Anchorage, Alaska |
Louisiana Jonathan Vogel Saint Louis Catholic High School Lake Charles, Louisiana |
Oregon Katherine Massinger Clackamas High School Clackamas, Oregon |
| Arizona Gabe Salmon Sonoran Preparatory Academy Scottsdale, Arizona |
Maine Matthew Gilman Cape Elizabeth High School Cape Elizabeth, Maine |
Overseas Schools Rubin Kataki Merivale High School Nepean, Ontario, Canada |
| Arkansas Lauren Jackson Pulaski Academy Little Rock, Arkansas |
Maryland Nicole Riemer Walt Whitman High School Bethesda, Maryland |
Pennsylvania Amber Emerson PA Homeschoolers AP Online Classes Lewisberry, Pennsylvania |
| California Madeline Chen Cupertino High School Cupertino, California |
Massachusetts Bianca Capone Pingree School South Hamilton, Massachusetts |
Rhode Island Omar Zaki South Kingstown High School Wakefield, Rhode Island |
| Colorado Zachary Kayal Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village, Colorado |
Michigan |
South Carolina Amy Chang South Carolina Governors School for Science and Mathematics Hartsville, South Carolina |
| Connecticut Shim Hughbo The Hotchkiss School Lakeville, Connecticut |
Minnesota Renee Holzkneck Elk River High School Elk River, Minnesota |
South Dakota |
| District of Columbia Emily Fox-Penner Maret School Washington, DC |
Mississippi Taylor Smith St. Patrick High School Biloxi, Mississippi |
Tennessee Monica Justo Girls Preparatory School Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Delaware Emily Freilich Wilmington Friends School Wilmington, Delaware |
Missouri Stephen Turban Rock Bridge High School Columbia, Missouri |
Texas Kamia Rathore Seven Lakes High School Katy, Texas |
| Florida Lauren Wittine PA Homeschoolers AP Online Class St. Petersburg, Florida |
Nebraska Alison Dudek Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Omaha, Nebraska |
US Territories Sara Cardona Academia Del Perpetuo Socorro San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Georgia Sophia Chen Chattahoochee High School Johns Creek, Georgia |
Nevada Wen Jay Tan Coronado High School Henderson, Nevada |
Utah Ha Lee West High School Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Hawaii Matthew Beattie-Callahan ‘Iolani High School Honolulu, Hawaii |
New Hampshire Cheyenne Tessier Alvirne High School Hudson, New Hampshire |
Vermont Matthew Grimo Windsor High School Windsor, Vermont |
| Idaho Savannah Dunn Bishop Kelly High School Boise, Idaho |
New Jersey Mark Gorenstein Leonia High School Leonia, New Jersey |
Virginia Melody Wang Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Richmond, Virginia |
| Illinois Erin Downs Belleville East High School Belleville, Illinois |
New Mexico Maisa Cook Del Norte High School Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Washington Micah Allred Home Instruction Support Normandy Park, Washington |
| Indiana Melinda Song Carmel High School Carmel, Indiana |
New York Esther Keiderling The Mount Academy Walden, New York |
Wisconsin Genevieve Dornemann Milwaukee High School of the Arts Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Iowa Mary Maher Homeschool Ankeny, Iowa |
North Carolina Kelly Hughes PA Homeschoolers AP Online Course Mooresville, North Carolina |
Wyoming Kristen Kennedy Worland High School Worland, Wyoming |
| Kansas Brae Miner Wichita High School East Wichita, Kansas |
Ohio Jisoo Hong Dublin Jerome High School Dublin, Ohio |
A complete list including the honorable mentions is available online.
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The United States Institute of Peace is the independent, nonpartisan conflict management center created by Congress to prevent and mitigate international conflict through non-violent means. USIP works to save lives, increase the government’s ability to deal with conflicts before they escalate, reduce government costs, and enhance national security.
