Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest

2008 -- The Inaugural Contest:

On May 27th, 2008, the New America Foundation announced the winner of its inaugural "Improving the Lives of Children" essay contest during a ceremony at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School. Banneker senior Yolanda Long, 18, received a $1,000 award for college. David Gray, director of the Workforce and Family Program at New America, and Victor Reinoso, DC's deputy mayor for education, presented the award.

According to Rev. Gray, "The goal of the 'Improving the Lives of Children' essay contest and the award ceremony is to draw attention to the needs of children and to the next generation of ideas to help kids. We had many excellent essays submitted. Yolanda's stood out in the opinion of the judges and she should be congratulated. We hope all students in the district and nation will continue to think of ways that improve the lives of all our citizens," Gray said.

In fall 2007, the New America Foundation's Workforce and Family Program invited all public and private high school seniors in Washington, D.C. to voice their opinions about the needs of children by writing and submitting an essay that answers the question, "You have just been elected the President of the United States. What is the most important thing you will do to improve the lives of America's children?" The contest's judges included DC State Superintendent of Education Deborah Gist, former First Lady of the State of Pennsylvania Ginny Thornburgh, who directs Religion and Disability issues at the National Organization on Disability in Washington, and Youth Venture's Director of Fellowship and the MidAtlantic Region, Marco Davis.

Ms. Long, a member of the National Language Honors Society, will attend Hampton University in the fall. During her time at Banneker High School, she played soccer, and joined the year book club and pep squad. Outside of school, Ms. Long is a member of Kapital Keystone Club, a youth leadership group for teenagers. In June, she’ll begin an internship with the DC Chamber of Commerce.

To read Ms. Long's winning essay, please click here.

The New America Foundation would like to congratulate Ms. Long and all who contributed their thoughts through this contest. Students in Washington, DC responded with a variety of suggestions and some truly excellent essays. The ten finalists for 2008 are listed below.

New America Foundation Essay Scholarship Contest Finalists:

Turquoise Bowen
Christopher Davon Brown
Mariela Castillo
Terrain Cheeks
Ian Anthony Coleman
Sharda Garieka Crumety
Nathan Graber
Chantel Joyner
Yolanda Long
Latasha Russell