2008-2009 Winners - East North Central Region
The winners of the Being an American Essay Contest have been announced! The top three winners in each region were announced at the Awards Gala on March 31, 2009.
East North Central Region
 | First Place - David Baker Cornerstone High School, Grade 11 “Without a tremendous amount of ingenuity the United States of American would not exist as we know it today. Ingenuity means trying new ways of doing things, new uses for past ideas, and developing them until you find a better way.” |
 | Second Place - Roberta Vander Boon Plymouth Christian High School, Grade 10 “[W]e Americans have persevered - and may this essay inspire you, as it has inspired me, to continue persevering to keep the United States the country it is today: prosperous, equal, just, independent, and free.” |
 | Third Place - Rachel Webb Thomas Worthington High School, Grade 11 “The government set up by the Framers allows Americans the ability to complain freely about any of these hardships, but is the individual citizen who demonstrates the quality of tenacity in refusing to back down despite inconvenience, hardship, or direct defiance of his wishes.” |
Honorable Mention - Ahsley Brewster Home School "Determination is what shaped this great nation and preserved its greatness. As long as our American citizens continue to show this characteristic civic virtue, America will continue as the leader of the free world." |
Honorable Mention - Sean Woods Marian Catholic High School “Tolerance has been absolutely crucial to our prosperity, national unity, and most importantly, our common identity: 'Out of Many, One.'” |
Honorable Mention - Nicholas VanderZwaag Plymouth Christian High School “A nation has no hope for survival, no hope for being successful, no hope for standing out, if its citizens are not permitted the value and right of religious freedom. Our forefathers initially realized that, and decided to address and protect this right in the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America” |
Honorable Mention - Zachariah Gerth Pontiac Academy for Excellence “Perseverance has driven innovation and has created a tradition that runs strong within the American conscious. Perseverance has motivated citizens with poor health and poor status within our social classes to overcome their circumstances and rise to the highest offices as well as the healthiest lifestyles.” |
Honorable Mention - Megan Pratt Swartz Creek High School “When courage exists, wherever it may be, things are accomplished because someone gathers up the guts to stand up for what they believe. Courage greatly enhances the heart of America.” |
Honorable Mention - Cody Johnston Springfield-Clark County CTC “Perseverance is the lifeblood of our country. Without it, America would never have prospered, or have been anything past an English colony. Fortunately, our past, present, and future has been filled with the strong souls who vowed to realize their dreams at any cost, and it has made all the difference.” |
Honorable Mention - Meghan Monahan De Pere High School “In America, its people have taken that idea of standing up to the status quo and for what they as individuals think is right and used it to better their nation. Disobedience against an establishment that is wrong has been a theme in American history since the beginning.” |
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