Winners Selected for the Youth Forward Scholarship Essay Contest

We are pleased to announce the winners for the last of three essay contests for 2017.

Before doing so, we wanted to thank everyone that participated. It is repeated for every contestant winner announcement, but bears repeating. And that is, we wish we could award everyone that participated a five hundred dollar scholarship prize. The submitted essays were so compelling and to choose one staff favorite was difficult to say the least. That said, everyone that participated is a truly a winner, in that you are serving your country by volunteering your efforts in order that circumstances should be better for those you are serving. And that truly is the best prize of all. So thank you for that. You all should be applauded for your commitment to fostering a better world.

As you all know, if there is anytime where  love, compassion, and service is needed, it’s now. With the on going natural calamities from fires to floods, and other similar events around the world, compounded by issues of racial and economic inequality, it’s so important we do all we can to ease the suffering of others, however small the gesture might be, it all makes a difference.

And now to announce the winners for the second 2017 Essay Contest.

For most shared essay, Jaylyn Beaty, Most Memorable Volunteer Experience. Jaylyn has been volunteering for many years now serving the less fortunate through both her school and church making a positive impact on her community and learning valuable life lessons along the way. Great work Jaylyn!

For staff favorite Meghan Burr, The Invisible Ones. Meghan has started an organization called "Foster Fins" whose aim is to teach foster children how to swim. Learning to swim not only gives the children a sense of accomplishment but also allows the kids to interact with positive role models and gives the children a sense of belonging to a larger community. A great way to take a skill and apply it to the benefit of others.  Foster fins  is opening up more chapters in the Bay area, California and we believe it's a great idea to spread chapters nationwide. Awesome work Meghan!

Great job to the both of you and congratulations!

Ideally there would be no need for scholarship contests, and each and every citizen would be assured a free college education. As you know, a high school degree does not go too far these days, and to limit one’s access to a good education and their God given potential because of a lack of resources is truly unjust when we have the means to provide otherwise.

So, this is also up to you — to declare that you wish for a college education be granted as a right for all and not just an option for some. I do hope you will get involved in bringing about this change. Bless you all.