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Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest, 2009 - 2010: The contest was launched on November 8, 2009, at a Kick-Off Event held at Georgetown University. The theme for this year was – "Compassion in Action as exemplified by the leaders of the three Abrahamic faiths." – scholars and clergy addressed the topic and answered students’ questions during the kick-off. On March 28, 2010, participating essayists were honored at the Children of Abraham Award Ceremony at the Riggs Library at Georgetown University. Read the agenda and view photographs from the award ceremony.
Farah Anwar Pandith (right), Special Representative to Muslim Communities, delivered the keynote address. Before cash and other awards were presented, essayists spoke of ways they’ve grown as a result of their participation in the contest. Also during the Award Ceremony, Youth Leadership Micro-Grants of $1,000, with another $1,000 pledged as a matching grant, were awarded to Fahad Ahsan, Victor Crentsil, Veronica Ferris, Rishabh Khatri, Danny Roza, Sarah Schwartz, Shayna Solomon and Ezra Wexler. Click here to view the video from the 2009-2010 Awards Ceremony Click here to download the Award Ceremony Compassion PDF The theme of this year’s peace essay contest is compassion, and the essay question reads as follows: Part I: What do the Abrahamic traditions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam teach us about compassion? How did their founders — Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad — serve as exemplars of compassion? PART II: Propose a practical teen-based project that embodies the principles of compassion. Show how the teachings you described in part I inspired the project. (A project could be advocacy, education, or material or moral support to those in need of society’s help. Make clear whether the focus is on individuals or whole populations, and how these would be identified or selected.) Our Award Winners were: First Place – Danny Roza (Mercersburg Academy) Second Place –Sarah Schwartz (Montgomery Blair High School) Third Place – Rishabh Khatri (Glenelg Country School) Fourth Place – Claire Boston (Montgomery Blair High School) Fourth Place – Victor Crentsil (Glenelg Country School) Fourth Place – Rebekah Lizotte (Hudson High School) Fourth Place – Shayna Solomon (Montgomery Blair High School) Honorable Mention – Fahad Ahsan (Glenelg Country School) Honorable Mention – Constanza Bartholomae (Hudson High School) Honorable Mention – Michelle Cook (Hudson High School) Honorable Mention – Veronica Ferris (Washington International School) Honorable Mention – Allen Jo (West Springfield High School) Honorable Mention – Maria Motta (Hudson High School) Honorable Mention – Adarsh Pradeep (West Springfield High School) Honorable Mention – Muaz Rahman (West Springfield High School) Honorable Mention – Anthony Shepherd Rousak (Sussex Technical High School) Honorable Mention – Ezra Wexler (Montgomery Blair High School) Our On-Line Mentors were: Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz, Faculty, Theology Department, Georgetown University Laith Al-Qasem, Chief Executive Officer of Arabian Business Consultants for Development Susan Bilek, Philosophy Teacher, Washington DC Diana L. Chambers, The Chambers Group, LLC Kenneth E. McNeil, Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP June Murray-Crawford, High School Teacher, Hudson, Massachusetts Professor Sulayman S. Nyang, Professor of African Studies, Howard University Our Essay Judges were: Karima Diane Alavi, former Director, Dar al Islam Teachers’ Institute Andrew R. Ammerman, Board of Regents, Georgetown University Susan Bilek, Philosophy Teacher, Washington DC David Cannon, Scientist with Science Applications International Corporation Alex Kronemer, Writer, Film Producer and Lecturer on Religious Diversity Stacy Ricotta, Educational Advisor, Houston, Texas
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