Mennonite
Central
Committee

MCC Washington Office announces essay contest winner

Angong Acuil
May 4, 2006

The MCC Washington Office has announced the winner of its annual Public Policy Essay Contest for high school students. A first place prize of $500 U.S. went to Maya de Vitry, from Hempfield High School in Landisville, Pennsylvania. Her essay, "For His Glory," addresses climate change and the impacts of global warming.

De Vitry warns that the greed and apathy of a nation ... and the greed and apathy of a world, has caused backs to turn on the most crucial environmental concerns of our time," including the possibility of irreversible climate change due to global warming.

Second and third places

Grace Schrock-Hurst, of Eastern Mennonite High School in Virginia, won second place and will receive $250 U.S. Her essay, Reducing Recidivism, addresses the topic of reintegrating prisoners into society. Quenton Miller, from Freeman Academy in South Dakota, placed third and will receive $100 U.S. His essay, entitled "A Climate Change," also addressed the impacts of global warming.

The MCC U.S. Washington Office holds this contest every year as one way to advance the church's work for peace and justice and to encourage young people to actively participate in the church's witness to governing authorities. The contest is open to Mennonite and Brethren in Christ youth of high school age. Essays are judged on the writer's understanding of the issues, clarity of presentation and creativity in addressing solutions. Portions of the top three essays will be reprinted in a forthcoming issue of the Washington Memo, the bimonthly newsletter of the MCC Washington Office.

 

Angong Acuil is a legislative assistant for the MCC Washington Office.