2008 Essay & Video Contest Winners
The 2008 contest asked students to focus on immigration:
Considering today's national debates about America's immigration policies, many have attempted and failed to find direct quotes from Dr. King on immigration. However, King's general concern for humanity and specific concern for the plight of African Americans has led people to draw vastly differing conclusions about what Dr. King's stance on immigration would be if he were alive today. Nonetheless, it is reasonable to believe that, if he were alive, Dr. King would be an active participant in the debate.
Students in grades 7 through 12 were invited to submit original essays or video presentations.
Essay Contest Winners, Grades 7–8
First Prize:
Lyndon Lapera, grade 8, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Princeton
Second Prize:
Taylor A. Filippini, grade 7, Readington Middle School, Whitehouse Station
Third Prize:
Kathryn Karmazyn, grade 7, St. Paul School, Princeton
Summer Ramsay-Burrough, grade 7, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Elisa Vera, grade 7, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Honorable Mention:
Brooke Ferenczy, grade 8, Readington Middle School, Whitehouse Station
Justen Haynes, grade 8, Link Community School, Newark
Cara Hume, grade 8, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Jack Orlowski-Scherer, grade 8, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Princeton
Adithi Rajagopalan, grade 8, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Olivia Wiles, grade 8, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
David Xue, grade 7, John Witherspoon Middle School, Princeton
Essay Contest Winners, Grades 9–10
First Prize:
Bina Bansinath, grade 10, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Sophia Ginez, grade 10, South Brunswick High School, Monmouth Junction
Second Prize:
Justin Miles Herron, grade 10, Montclair High School, Montclair
Third Prize:
Meg Baker, grade 10, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Honorable Mention:
Caroline Collins, grade 10, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Sasank Isola, grade 10, Princeton High School, Princeton
A. Brandon King, grade 9, Cherokee High School, Marlton
Natalie Pontillo, grade 10, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Robyn Sellers, grade 9, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Prachy Shahi, grade 10, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Meredith Souto, grade 9, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Essay Contest Winners, Grades 11–12
First Prize:
Kate Wiles, grade 11, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Second Prize:
Yassamine Ebadat, grade 12, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Third Prize:
Abigail Borah, grade 11, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Michael McCarthy, grade 11, Princeton High School, Princeton
Honorable Mention:
Roxana Amirahmadi, grade 11, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Kate Baker, grade 12, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Nicole Blumenkehl, grade 11, Morristown-Beard School, Morristown
Erin Byrne, grade 11, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Laura Engshuber, grade 12, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Andrea Kravitz, grade 11, Villa Victoria Academy, Trenton
Clare Wiles, grade 12, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Video Contest Winners, Grades 7–12
First Prize:
Alex and Izzy Kasdin, grade 10, Princeton High School, Princeton
Second Prize:
Abigail Scott, grade 7, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Third Prize:
Sasha Chhabra, grade 8, John Witherspoon Middle School, Princeton
Honorable Mention:
Ashley DelleFave, grade 8, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Claire Felten, grade 7, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Sarah Horton, grade 10, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Cara Souto, grade 7, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton
Mackenzie Stricklin, grade 8, Stuart Country Day School, Princeton