Previous Winners

Click on names to read winning essays.

1990: Rory Flanagan, Upper Marlboro, MD
1992: Dora Rose Baldwin, Fremont, CA
1993: Daphne Ritter, Fremont, CA; Versie Hoffman, Lilburn, GA
1994: Frances S. Bourne, Walkersville, MD; Doran Windsor Bowe
1995: Aaron Millar, Valley Center, CA; Katie E. McKenna, Middletown, MD
1996: Jennifer Johnson, Boxboro, MA; Melinda Jean Balk, Lincolnwood, IL
1997: Frank E. Gallimore, Salem, OR; DuWayne Terry, West Hartford, CT
1998: Sarah Houghland, Bellingham, WA; Ruth Goad, Chicopee, MA
1999: Michael Stetson, St. Augustine, FL; Maureen Finneran, Fremont, CA
2000: Kevin Coco, Austin, TX; Candace Coleman, Santa Barbara, CA
2001: Louise Johnson, Acton, MA; Ms. Rosa Gabel, Olathe, KS
2002: Aimee Smith, Muncie, IN; Michael Mohammed, Floral Park, NY
2003: Ryan Seago, Seattle, WA; Michael Raiche, Wakefield, RI
2004: Jannelle A. Legg, Ely, IA; Ryan Croke, Wheeling, IL
2005: Faydren Edwards, GA; Molly Smith, IN
2006: Audrey Lee, Arcadia, CA; Amanda Boxer, Germantown, MD; Hillary Fuechtman, Shoreview, MN
2007: Achante Denise Sellars, Duncanville, TX; Kyle Seago, Seattle, WA; Nathaniel Tao, Reston, VA
2008: Diana Shifirina, Brooklyn, NY; Trisha Phadke, Schaumberg, IL; Xuan Do Sang, Irvine, CA
2009: Lisa Blanks, Bowie, MD & James Wilson, Jr., Waxhaw, NC
2010: Gavin Lewis, Grayson, GA; Holly Morrow, Fenton, MO; Trisha Phadke, Shaumberg, IL; Adriana Sorondo, Fresno, CA
2011: En Tzu (Angela) Liu, Charlestown, SC & Kayla Hammersmith,  Carol Stream, IL
2012: Joel Paola, San Diego, CA (full); Wayne Taylor, Bartlet, TN (full); Kristina Didero, Walnut Creek, CA (partial); Mary Mugure Gakina, Naro-Moru, Kenya (partial); Erika Neilsen, Portland, OR (partial)