VALUES FOR LIFE International Essay Contest

The Asia Pacific Leadership Program of the East-West Center is proud to announce the winners of the inaugural VALUES FOR LIFE International Essay Contest, held in partnership with the Nisei Veterans Endowed Forum Series of the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.

Students between the ages of 14 and 18 years from around the world were asked to write essays that answered the question: "What values are essential for a world characterized by peace and social justice?"

Essays were submitted by students from countries including Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Micronesia, Vietnam, and the United States.

The winners are (in alphabetical order):

Mr. Bhuwan Giri, Motithang Higher Secondary School - Thimphu, Bhutan
Miss. Jalnidh Kaur, Guru Nanak Public School - Ludhiana, India
Miss. Rosemary Owen, Cuyahoga Falls High School - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
Miss. Mikia Weidenbach, Waialua High and Intermediate School - Waialua, Hawai'i, USA

Please click on the names above to read the students' essays.

International winners of the VALUES FOR LIFE International Essay Contest were invited to attend the Pacific Educational Conference (PEC) from July 9-12, 2007 in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

For more information about the VALUES FOR LIFE International Essay Contest, please click here.

The Hōkūle'a Education Team would like to extend a warm mahalo to its donors, sponsors, and partners who helped make possible the VALUES FOR LIFE International Essay Contest.