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2002 Anthem Essay Contest

First Place

Sunyia Hussain, Jacksonville, FL, Stanton College Preparatory Schoo
[Read essay]

Second Place

Jenna Bergstrom, South H.S.
Jackie Brosamer, Yorba Linda, CA Troy H.S.
Gena Gorlin, Indianapolis, IN, North Central H.S.
Brittney Moraski, Bark River, MI, Bark River-Harris H.S.
Chris Paci, Manalapan, NJ, High Tech H.S.
Kathleen Ryou, North Hollywood, CA, North Hollywood H.S.
Amanda Siegwein, Glenns Ferry, ID, Glenns Ferry H.S.
Haley Steplyk, Libertyville, IL, Libertyville H.S.
Jennifer Whitcomb, Jacksonville, FL, Edward H. White H.S.
Isabel Eve Wiesenfeld, Ontario, Canada, Academy for Gifted Children

Third Place

Mairin Francesca Balisi, Irvine, CA Irvine H.S.
Sarah Beckelhimer, Milton, WV, Cabell Midland H.S.
Kyle Booth, Brentwood, TN, Brentwood Academy
Andrew Ensley, Niceville, FL, OWCC Collegiate H.S.
Paige Fante, Grand Junction , CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Sarah Gifford, South Dartmouth, MA, Home schooled
Grace Hsu, Saratoga, CA, Saratoga H.S.
Catherine Killingsworth, Atlanta, GA, Chamblee H.S.
Justin Ladner, Victoria, TX, Memorial H.S.
Igor Markar, Rapid City, SD, Rapid City Central H.S.
Yuval Masory, Boca Raton, FL, Spanish River, H.S.
Alexander McCobin, York, PA, Central York H.S.
Chris Parker, Ubly, MA, Ubly H.S.
Meredith Parker, Memphis, TN, White Station H.S.
Kirsten Pickering, Mesa, AZ, Stapley H.S.
Hunter Robinson, El Segundo, CA El Segundo H.S.
Cory Schillaci, Auburn, WA, Home schooled
Jessica Vincent, Murfreesboro, TN, Blackman H.S.
Kurt Whittemore, Cedar City, UT, Cedar H.S.
Amanda Willis, Duxbury, MA 02332

Finalists

Meghan Bennett, Colorado Springs, CO, Mesa Ridge H.S.
Elaine Biebel-Betz, New York, NY, Loyola School
Carl Blum, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Simon Cartoon, Atlanta, GA, North Springs H.S.
Stephanie Chen, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, Acad. for Gifted Children
Nicole Cisneros, Salinas, CA, Salinas H.S.
William Cooper, Alexandria, VA, TC Williams H.S.
Kathleen Cui, Hilliard, OH, Hilliard Davidson H.S.
Carrie DuLaney, Arlington, VA, H-B Woodlawn Program
Gairdt Edwards, Old Hickory, TN, Beech Senior H.S.
Sarah Engler, Kittaning, PA, Kittaning Senior H.S.
Matthew Fraley, Pearland, Tx, US, Lutheran South Academy
Stephanie Gottheil, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, Acad. for Gifted Children
Kristina Hagar, Buena Vista, VA, Parry McCluer H.S.
Mark Higgins, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Ashbury College
Arwen Johnson, Tecumseh, MI
Emily Kahm, Kansas City, MO, St. Pius X H.S.
Krista Kay, Allen, TX, Allen H.S.
Bethany Kearl, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Jessie Kelleher, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Corey Kestenberg, Boca Raton, FL, Spanish River H.S.
Rebecca Koransky, Scotch Plains, NJ, Scotch Plains Fanwood H.S.
Christopher La Pat, Oak Hills, CA, Serrano H.S.
Caroline La Rochelle, Meadville, PA, Meadville Area Senior H.S.
Heyse Li, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, Acad. for Gifted Children
Rachel Morrison, Chelmsford, MA, Academy of Notre Dame
Lindsay Mulgrew, Pittsford Mendon H.S.
Rhiannon Nicolson, Chaoyang District, Beijing, PR China, Intnl School of Beijing
Colleen Nolan, Havertown, PA
Katie Nolan, Baldwin, MD, Dulaney H.S.
Neil Okey, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
John Plaster, Millbrook, AL, Edgewood Academy
Chelsea Plyler, Thousand Oaks, CA,
Trystan Popish, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Alicia Puglionesi, Haverford HS
Sigal Samuel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Hebrew Academy
Amanda Stanley, Goddard, KS, Bishop Carroll Catholic H.S.
Hannah Stephens, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Lauren Tomola, Jacksonville, FL, Stanton College Preparatory School
Lena Voyles, Yuma, AZ, Yuma H.S.
Matthias Wasser, Lafayette Hill, PA, St. Joseph's Preparatory School
Rachel Wayne, Scarborough, ON, Canada, Acad. for Gifted Children
Haley Wood, Brentwood, TN, Brentwood H.S.

Semi-Finalists

Curtis Alderson, Weaverville, CA, Trinity H.S.
Meghan Alpert, Long Beach, NY, Sacred Heart Academy
Kirsten Andersen, Gilbertsville, PA, The Hill School
Rachel Anderson, Clinton, IL, Clinton H.S.
Erica Aytes, Pocatello, ID, Pocatello H.S.
Asra Aziz, Tustin, CA, Tustin H.S.
Nicole Baker, Eldora, IA, Eldora-New Providence H.S.
Devan Barber, Bon Air, VA, James River H.S.
Nelson Barre, Highlands Ranch, CO, J. K. Mullen H.S.
Patricia Barrett, Brewster, NY, North Salem H.S.
Ashley Battista, Homer, NY, Homer Central H.S.
Cassie Bean, Redlands, CA, Redlands East Valley High
Stephanie Beckett, San Antonio, TX, Ronald Reagan H.S.
Rachel Bergman, Redlands, CA, Redlands East Valley High
Adam Bertrand, Alpine, CA, Granite Hills H.S.
Lauren Bloch, Lawrenceville, GA, Brookwood H.S.
Matthew Bonasia, Scotch Plains, NJ, Scotch Plains Fanwood H.S.
Kia Chae Yoon Block, Clintonville, WI, Clintonville H.S.
John Brick, Livonia, MI, Seton Home Study School
Amber Burch, Memphis, TN, White Station H.S.
Ryan Byerly, Maineville, OH, Kings Local School District
Paul Cain, Indianapolis, IN, Roncalli H.S.
Flora Campbell, Lexington, KY, The Lexington School
Douglas Carmichael, Oscoda, MI, Oscoda H.S.
Sean Catlett, Roswell, GA, Lassiter H.S.
Marie Cavanaugh, Whitewater, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Katharina Clarke, Ruther Glen, VA, Caroline HS
Kristy Clarno, El Cajon, CA, Granite Hills H.S.
Jennifer Cobb, Indianapolis, IN, Roncalli H.S.
Amy Coffey, Smyrna, TN, Smyrna H.S.
Mike Collins, Rochester, NY, Greece Odyssey School
Preston Scott Copeland, Baltimore, MD, Carver Ctr for the Arts and Technology
Theresa Crance, Timber Lake, SD, Timber Lake H.S.
Rachel Cranfill, Redlands, CA, Redlands East Valley High
Daniel Cullina, Chicago, IL, Morgan Park Academy
Gerald Daigle, New Orleans, LA, US, Jesuit H.S.
Amanda Deivert, Derby, KS, Derby H.S.
Katherine DeWitt, Sarasota, FL, Riverview H.S.
Jonathan Dolph Jr., New Carlisle, IN, New Prairie H.S.
Adrian D'Souza, Randolph, NJ, Randolph H.S.
Karen D'Souza, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Notre Dame Catholic School
Florine Eggink, China, Intl. School of Beijing
Bryan Ellis, Sarasota, Fl, US, Riverview H.S.
Amy Elmgren, Auburn, CA, US, Placer H.S.
Irene Epshteyn, Brooklyn, N.Y., US, Stuyvesant H.S
Megan Eskenasi, Great Neck, NY, John L. Miller Great Neck North HS
Philip Eye, Baldwin, NY, Baldwin Senior H.S.
Liz Getz, Fairfax, CA, Sir Francis Drake H.S.
Danielle Faison, Richmond, VA, James River H.S.
John Farr, Sayville, NY, Sayville H.S.
Mariam Firunts, Glendale, CA, Hoover H.S.
Melissa Flores, Jacksonville, AR, North Pulaski H.S.
Allison Ford, Hilliard, OH, Hilliard Davidson H.S.
Jonathan Fraser, Greenville, PA, Greenville Area H.S.
Jennifer Frederiksen, Woodland, CA, Woodland H.S.
Julie Frenznick, Palm Desert, CA, Palm Desert H.S.
Matthew Gaeta, Boca Raton, FL, Spanish River H.S.
Ryan Gehring, Lenexa, KS, US, Shawnee Mission West H.S.
Grant George, Derby, KS, Derby H.S.
Carra Glatt, Livingston, NJ, Livingston H.S.
Sarah Glendon, Virginia Beach, VA, Floyd E. Kellam H.S.
Drew Gniewek, Philadelphia, PA, George Washington H.S.
Augustine Goh, Beijing, 100004, CHINA, International School of Beijing
Rachel Gottlieb, Pittsford, NY, Pittsford Mendon H.S.
Laura Gowans, Lee's Summit, MO, Lee's Summit North H.S.
Amy Greiner, North Kansas City, MO, North Kansas City H.S.
Adina Guest, Sarasota, FL, Booker H.S.
Erol Gulunay, Missouri City, TX, Clements H.S.
Lisa Guo, Alpharetta, GA, Chattahoochee H.S.
Ben Heile, Goodlettsville, TN, Beech Senior H.S.
Bruce Hill, Seattle, WA, O'Dea H.S.
Joan Hoedeman, Atlanta, GA, Marist School
Landon Holder, Alpine, CA, US, Granite Hills H.S.
Samara Holub-Moorman, Chapel Hill, NC, East Chapel Hill H.S.
Tiffany Horner, Alpine, CA, Granite Hills H.S.
Gracie Huang, Duluth, GA, Chattahoochee H.S.
Erik Johnson, Park Ridge, IL, Maine South H.S.
Jerrod Johnson, Durham, NC, Jordan H.S.
Madison Jones, Dallas, Texas, Highland Park H.S.
John Judge, Linden, CA, Linden H.S.
Jamie Karp, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Charlie Kennedy, Memphis, TN, White Station H.S.
Jennifer Kennedy, Fairport, NY, Pittsford Mendon H.S.
Chloe Kernaghan, Agana, GUAM, St. John's School
David Khosrowzadeh, Jacksonville, FL, Stanton College Preparatory School
Jessica King, Snellville, GA, Brookwood H.S.
Dorothy Kingwood, Stone Mountain, GA, Delkalb School of the Arts
Michael Klees, Harrisburg, PA, Central Dauphin H.S.
Casey Klioutchnikova, Richmond, VA, Douglas Southall Freeman
Jamie Knight, Hilliard Davidson H.S.
Edward Lam, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kaimuki H.S.
Brian Lee, Edison, NJ, Edison H.S.
Wen-Shin Lee, Fremont, CA, US, Mission San Jose H.S.
Evan Leitner, Wyckoff, NJ, Ramapo H.S.
Cassandra Lettenberger, Amherst, OH, Lorain Catholic H.S.
Marena Lin, Northridge, CA, Granada Hills H.S.
John Lowry, Centennial, CO, Cherry Creek H.S.
Gabriela Magda, Middle Village, NY, Stuyvesant H.S.
Jon Malmaud, Boca Raton, FL, Spanish River H.S.
Christine McCarthy, Waltham, MA, US, Arlington Catholic H.S.
Capella Meurer, Cockeysville, MD, Dulaney H.S.
Allison Miles, Camp Hill, PA, Cedar Cliff H.S.
Brynn Miller, Goodlettsville, TN, Beech Senior H.S.
Vanessa Minassian, Glendale, CA, Hoover H.S.
Jared Moreng, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Stacie Morgan, Delta, UT, U.S., Delta H.S.
Jennifer Morris, Franklin Furnace, OH, Green H.S.
Danielle Morrow, Goodlettsville, TN, Beech Senior H.S.
Rebecca Moy, Madera, CA, Madera H.S.
Joe Murray, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Ehsan Najafabadi, Alpharetta, GA, Chattahoochee H.S.
Sarah Nasir, Central Islip, NY, Central Islip H.S.
Tiffanie Nham, Cypress, CA, Los Alamitos H.S.
Lia Norris, Indianapolis, IN, Pike H.S.
Leslie Anne Nicolas, San Antonio, TX, Communications Arts H.S.
Alex Numann, Perez Acres, Yigo, GUAM, St. John's School
Michael Oh, East Amherst, NY, US, Williamsville East H.S.
John Oquist, Bloomfield Hills, MI, US, Andover H.S.
Joseph Painter, Livermore, CA, Moreau Catholic H.S.
Shivani Patel, Alpharetta, GA, Chattahoochee H.S.
Evgenia Peeva, Sofia, none, Bulgaria, American College of Sofia
Emma Perry, Newfields, NH, Pingree School
Marlena Pichon, Alpharetta, GA, Chattahoochee H.S.
Scott Pieper, San Antonio, TX, Douglas MacArthur H.S.
Suzanne Pilaar, Haledon, NJ, Manchester Regional H.S.
Cathryn Pratt, Washington, IL, Peoria Christian H.S.
Ben Rader, Wynnewood, PA, Haverford H.S.
Millie Rajyaguru, Edison, NJ, Edison H.S.
Vanessa Reichert, Evans, CO, Greeley West H.S.
Eric Ren, Shunyi District, Beijing, CHINA, International School of Beijing
Ashley Richardson, Derby, KS, Derby H.S.
Lindsey Rings, Dublin, OH, Hilliard Davidson H.S.
Sarah Roberts, Rochester, NY, Greece Odyssey School
Rob Robbins, Cortland, NY, Homer H.S.
Rebecca Roden, Jacksonville, FL, Stanton College Preparatory School
Christine Rohal, Jacksonville, FL, Stanton College Preparatory School
Jamin Rol, Corrales, NM, Cibola H.S.
Justin Rowinsky, Scotch Plains, NJ, Scotch Plains Fanwood H.S.
Andrea Ruane, Boca Raton, FL, Spanish River H.S.
Paul Ryan, Ardmore, PA, St. Joseph's Preparatory School
Jennifer Sanchez, Redlands, CA, Redlands East Valley High
Cina Sasan, Pittsford, NY, Pittsford Mendon H.S.
Julia Schuchard, Lawrenceville, GA, Brookwood H.S.
Sophie Schwartz, Havertown, PA, Haverford H.S.
Kelly Seaver, Elk Grove, CA, Elk Ridge Middle School
Krystle Seitz, Felton, PA, Red Lion Area Senior H.S.
Jugal Shah, Central Islip, NY, Central Islip H.S.
Frank Sharp, Hammonton, NJ, Hammonton H.S.
Christina Shaw, Central Islip, NY, Central Islip H.S.
Jared Shepard, Gallup, NM, Gallup H.S.
Matt Shutzer, Marblehead, MA, Marblehead H.S.
Eric Sorenson, Pittsford, NY, Pittsford Mendon H.S.
Jenna Springer, Manhattan, KS, Manhattan H.S. East Campus
Benjamin Spurlock, Milton, WV, Cabell Midland H.S.
Dillon Styke, Holland, MI, Macatawa Bay School
Alina Syunkov, Orlando, FL, Dr. Phillips H.S.
Kelcy Takahashi Adamec, Columbia, MD, Oakland Mills H.S.
Jennifer Tarr, Pine Brook, NJ, Montville H.S.
David Taube, Cortland, NY, Homer H.S.
Bansi Thekdi, Sterling, IL, Sterling H.S.
Beca Thompson, Hilliard, OH, Hilliard Davidson H.S.
Rachel Tombes, Midlothian, VA, James River H.S.
Jennifer Tsai, Little Neck, NY, US, Benjamin N. Cardozo H.S.
Cameron Unterberger, Lilburn, GA, Brookwood H.S.
Nicole Utz, Red Lion, PA, Red Lion Area Senior H.S.
Hana Van Der Steur, Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
Mark van Loveren, Cincinatti, OH, Mariemont H.S.
Ann Walter, Crown Point, IN, Crown Point H.S.
Sarah Warnet, Wyckoff, NJ, Ramapo H.S.
Emily Washington, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.
Joseph Weagel, Albuquerque, NM, Cibola H.S.
Rosanne West, Hendersonville, TN, Beech Senior H.S.
Julie Winsett, Unionville, TN, Christian Chapel Academy
Victor Wong, Philadelphia, PA, George Washington H.S.
Jonathon Zellner, Grand Junction, CO, Grand Junction H.S.