High school winners to present essays at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum March 4
Outstanding high school seniors from central Illinois will share their beliefs at a public event at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum 6-8 p.m. March 4. Five of the ten student winners of the “This I Believe” high school essay contest attend high schools in Springfield District 186. The other five winners are from Auburn, Chatham, Quincy and Virden. This year 226 high school seniors from 15 central Illinois schools submitted essays for NPR Illinois’ 14 th annual “This I Believe” essay contest.
The contest is based upon the 1951 radio program hosted by Edward R. Murrow. Contributors wrote short essays conveying what they believe. Listeners heard beliefs of the most powerful people in the world and those who weren’t famous. NPR Illinois adopted this idea to ask high school seniors to write about what they believe as they prepare to enter adulthood. Over the years, the students’ essays have been funny, serious, quirky, sad, entertaining, reflective, hopeful, emotional and inspiring. This year’s essays are about honesty, big ideas, unconventional beauty and more.
To select the winning essays, NPR Illinois assembles a review panel of community representatives to score them.
This year’s winners, who are all involved in a wide range of activities at their schools, are:
Kenya Apongule, Southeast High School. Essay title: My Black is Beautiful. Plans to major in sociology pre-med track.
Grace Beyers, Southeast High School. Essay title: I Believe in a Royal Flush. Plans to go into advocacy, social work or Congress.
Jatin Dhamrait, Springfield High School. Essay title: Chalk. Plans to major in bio-med engineering with a minor in computer science.
Ashanti Hatchett, Lanphier High School. Essay title: Unconventional Beauty. Plans to major in mathematics.
Kylee Kazenski, North Mac High School, Virden. Essay title: I Believe in Passing the Ball. Plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Truman Poteat, North Mac High School, Auburn. Essay title: I Believe in Big Ideas. Plans to major in biology/pre-med.
Luke Siebers, Quincy Notre Dame, Quincy. Essay title: Honesty is the Best Policy. Plans to major in accounting.
Jeramey Spann, North Mac High School, Virden. Essay title: Superheroes. Plans to major in biology/pre-med.
Joseph Tisckos, Southeast High School. Essay title: False Boundaries. Plans to major in economics.
Ethan Whelpley, Glenwood High School, Chatham. Essay title: Chemistry Lessons. Plans to major in advertising.
Students record their essays, which are broadcast on NPR Illinois. This year the winners will recite their essays at a public event at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. A reception with the students will follow the presentations, and the museum’s exhibits will be open to view. The Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise has been a partner from the beginning. With support from additional sponsors this year, each student will receive a stipend of $500, up from $200 in recent years. The event and stipends are made possible by NPR Illinois, Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, KEB, Marine Bank, BLH Computers, Brian Barstead and ALPLM Foundation.
Illinois State Historian Dr. Samuel Wheeler suggested the March 4 date, which is the date of President Abraham Lincoln’s first and second inaugurations. “Abraham Lincoln came from the humblest of circumstances,” Wheeler said. “Yet, he overcame his early adversities and achieved greatness. The young authors of the ‘This I Believe’ essay contest have had their own challenges and experiences and formed positive philosophies that will sustain them far into the future. We are so excited for the students to share their inspiring essays at the ALPLM, an institution devoted to honoring the life and legacy of a man who not only achieved the American Dream, but worked to make the world around him a better place for all people.”
Karen Ackerman Witter is a frequent contributor to Illinois Times. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise and always looks forward to being inspired by the student winners of the annual NPR Illinois “This I Believe” high school essay contest.
