Memorial Essay Contest
Initiated in 2002, the annual Essay Contest has become a cornerstone of the Memorial's educational programs. In 2005, the Essay Contest expanded from a state contest to a national one, allowing more students to use this contest as a vehicle for sharing their rich perspective and engaging in the lessons of the Memorial.
The April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City occurred because one person chose violence as a means to express disagreement and effect change – and 168 innocent people were killed. The quotations selected for the 2010 Student Essay Contest were from people with a personal connection to the bombing, and highlight the importance of courage, strength and hope in the decisions we make in our lives.
A team of 12 judges, including a family member, survivor, first responder, educators, media and community volunteers, selected winners in the Memorial's ninth annual Student Essay Contest. This year we received 1,428 entries from 49 states, the District of Columbia and Spain. Winning entries came from students in California, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas and Utah.
Contest winners will be recognized at the Oklahoma House of Representatives in February, and winning essays will be available in the Museum's virtual archives.
Watch for information on the 2011 Student Essay Contest in early fall.
2010 Student Essay Contest Winners
Grades 5 - 6 |
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| First Place | Holly Maynard Starkville Academy, Starkville, MS |
6 |
| Second Place | Wacey Murrow Arnet Public School, Arnett, OK |
6 |
| Third Place | Tara Thomason Blanchard Middle School, Blanchard, OK |
6 |
Grades 7 - 8 |
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| First Place | Elizabeth Peled Memorial Middle School, Point Pleasant, NJ |
7 |
| Second Place | Alexa Short Valliant Middle School, Valliant, OK |
8 |
| Third Place | Maxwell Hanson Owasso Eighth Grade Center, Owasso, OK |
8 |
Grades 9 - 10 |
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| First Place | Levi D. Pennington Lawton High School, Lawton, OK |
10 |
| Second Place | Claire Chandler Latta High School, Ada, OK |
9 |
| Third Place | MaryAnn Grover Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, Oklahoma City, OK |
10 |
| Honorable Mention | Lindsey Carroll Syracuse Junior High, Syracuse, UT |
9 |
Grades 11 - 12 |
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| First Place | Maria Kim Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena, CA |
12 |
| Second Place | Sarah Ann Overton Point Pleasant Beach High School, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ |
12 |
| Third Place | Emily Dunn Harker Heights High School, Harker Heights, TX |
11 |
| Honorable Mention | Alexandra Gadbois Ponaganset High School, North Scituate, RI |
12 |
| Honorable Mention | Elisabeth Brandenburg Princeton High School, Princeton, TX |
12 |
This program is made possible through the generous support of Allegiance Credit Union. |
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