Were you a winner of one of our past essay contests? Let us know. We’d love to know how the essay contest shaped your career choice and do a follow-up blog on you!
2018: Our essay topic this year was, “What can older generations learn from your generation?“ First prize winner was Adam Aleksic, a junior at Albany High School. Second prize winner was Ian Moore, a senior at Averill Park. Alexandria Reszyntniak, a junior at Academy of Holy Names, won our third place prize.
2017: In honor of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New York State, students were asked to compare the women’s rights movements in the United States and Russia over the past 150 years. First prize winner Samantha Vatalaro is from Shaker High, second prize winner Kerensa Hughes is from Schenectady High, and third prize winner Adam Aleksic hails from Albany High.
2016: We asked writers to identify and discuss ways in which Russia and the U.S. have worked together successfully to solve problems and how they can continue to work together in partnerships of mutual interest to create a more harmonious world and improve lives. First place winner was Erin Lippitt, an Albany High School sophomore. Second prize winner was Robert Willard, a senior at Bethlehem High School, and third prize winner was Ian Boldiston, also a sophomore at Albany High.
2014: This year we asked students to research the impact of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube on Russian culture and Russia’s relationship with the United States. Top three finalists were Isaac Smith, a homeschooled junior from Clifton Park, Tarek Atallah Benson, a senior at Albany High, and Michael Bangert-Drowns, a junior at Albany High. Isaac and Tarek traveled with chaperones Sonya Stark and Jack Aernecke on a 10-day trip to Tula, Moscow, and St. Petersburg.
2013: Olympiad winners Will Heatley, a sophomore from Tamarac High School, and Margarette Keesee, a junior from Guilderland High School, along with chaperone Barbara Webster, enjoyed a whirlwind trip to Tula, Russia.
2012: Ichabod Crane High School senior Rose Schneider and Guilderland High School Senior Haewon Hwang both won our essay contest entitled, “Citing specific examples from Leo Tolstoy’s short stories, describe his influence on the thought of world leaders” and a trip to Russia with volunteer chaperones Mary Emerson, Dawn Stuart Weinraub, and Sonja Stark.
2011: Essay contest winner and homeschooled junior Wyatt Smith of Clifton Park, who tackled the topic of U.S./Russian cooperation in space exploration, and Olympiad winners David Connor, a junior at Tamarac High School, and Alessandra Pratt from North Warren Central School enjoyed visits to Tula and Moscow with chaperone Lana Sullivan.
2010: This year we asked, “What could Presidents Medvedev and Obama do together to improve the lives of Americans and Russians?” Shenendehowa senior Rachel Augustine and Bethlehem High junior Charlotte Storch won a trip to Tula, chaperoned by Dawn Stuart Weinraub and hosted by Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University.