2008 Student Winners
The winners of the Being an American Essay Contest have been announced! The winners, ten from each region, were recognized at the Being an American Student Awards Weekend in Washington, D.C. April 6-8, 2008.
West South Cental Region
 | Jennifer Tran “ The American Dream requires people to step up and take the first step towards that dream; it won't just come to them…..An essential part of being American is possessing the initiative to strive relentlessly towards a dream.” |
 | Second Place - Andrew Bobo “ It is the people’s responsibility – not the government’s – to create positive change in their local communities, in their country, and in the world....Ordinary people are bound by patriotic duty to chart the course of their country as it moves into the future.” |
 | Third Place - Stephen Sholden “ Kennedy and Franklin...were summoned to leadership positions, sometimes reluctantly, because of their works. The common thread that connects these men and the civic value that is most essential to being an American is service. Each of us can personally celebrate our patriotism by answering positively when we are called to service.” |
 | Honorable Mention - Shea Houlihan “ Being an American requires that everyday heroes like Matthew Lyon stand up for what they believe in, fight to check the excesses of governments, and remain steadfast in their defense of our rights as citizens of America. |
 | Honorable Mention - Lindsay Huffines “ Speech is not a dog, confined to the backyard, chained to the fence and only let out upon occasion to prowl the neighborhood. It deserves free reign, to guard the country from ignorance and injustice.” |
 | Honorable Mention - Madeline Murrell “ It is my personal responsibility to look past outward appearances and different beliefs to see the person behind the mask. I must stand up against racial discrimination, ethnic segregation, and societies’ labels” |
 | Honorable Mention - Jared Pelley “ Justice and activism,...which incited the Founders to fight for this nation’s independence, inspire me to reclaim the purpose to which my generation is called.” |
 | Honorable Mention - Trinity Stennfeld “ Not only has justice given life to our great nation, but it is also one of the core civic values that holds our society together and unites us through victory and through crisis.” |
 | Honorable Mention - Brendan Tseung “ The Declaration of Independence...is the foundation for many other founding documents that came after, truly showing that all Americans share, at their cores, the civic value of liberty.” |
 | Honorable Mention - Achal Upadhyaya “ As this country derived from a recognition of injustice and tyranny, so too do many Americans serve their country best by standing up in the face of inequality and oppression. The citizens of the United States of America have always been a particularly independent and maverick breed, for the very foundation upon which this country was built stems from the seeds of discontent.” |
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Brought to you by the Bill of Rights Institute |
Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation |
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