Twenty-five students were named semifinalists of the New America Foundation's Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest today. 

This year's semifinalists were selected from more than 3,400 entrants, from high schools in every state. By state, the semifinalists broke out to 1 Arkansas; 1 Arizona; 1 California; 1 Colorado; 1 Illinois; 2 Michigan; 1 Minnesota; 1 Mississippi; 1 North Carolina; 1 New Jersey; 3 New York; 1 Ohio; 3 Pennsylvania; 1 Tennessee; 3 Texas; 1 Utah; 1 Washington.

High school seniors wrote 600 words on the question, "You have just been elected the President of the United States.  What is the most important thing you will do to improve the lives of America's children?" Essays are judged on the quality of both the ideas and the writing.

"We received essays from young people from North Pole High School in Alaska to Maine to Florida to Oregon.  We received thousands of very insightful essays and it was a real challenge narrowing the field," said David Gray, Director of the Workforce and Family Program at New America.

Mr. Gray added, "The purpose of the 'Improving the Lives of Children' Essay contest is to draw attention to ideas that can make a difference in the lives of America's youth.  We are hopeful that this can highlight some of the critical needs of America's young people."

The essay contest is held with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In May, the 10 finalists will be announced. In June, the contest winner will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges and will receive a $2,500 prize for college.  For future information and results see http://www.newamerica.net/programs/workforce_and_family.

The 2009 semi-finalists are:

• Nicholas Bemberg, Little Rock, AR
• Tara Murphy, Tucson, AZ
• Kara Gash, Yuba City, CA
• Isaac Fonken, Estes Park, CO
• Jessica Thompson, Troy, IL
• Kate O'Connor, Plymouth, MI
• Chi Song, Troy, MI
• Kathryn Geskermann, Maplewood, MN
• Cecil Walden, Booneville, MS
• Sophia Zhang, Charlotte, NC
• Travis Joseph, Warner, NH
• Margaret Dudasik, Nutley, NJ
• Daniel Robbins, Bedford, NY
• Erika DiLorenzo, Clifton Park, NY
• Nicholas Englese, Malverne, NY
• Neil Menon, Wyoming, OH
• Tyrik Thorn, Philadelphia, PA
• Abby O'Hare, Sayre, PA
• Caitlin Conroy, Telford, PA
• Andy Danniels, Spring City, TN
• Shelby Calabrese, Buda, TX
• Mary Anne O'Brien, Carrollton, TX
• Qingliu Yang, Plano, TX
• Kristen Bradford, Orem, UT
• Katherine Bergus, Gig Harbor, WA

Media interested in covering New America's Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest should contact Erin Drankoski at 202-997-8727 or drankoski@newamerica.net. 

About us
The New America Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new ideas and new voices to the fore of our nation's public discourse. New America is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has offices in California.