Essay Contest Winners 2019
The Mahmoud S Taman Foundation is pleased to announce 10 awardees for its 2020 Second Annual Essay Contest, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. In keeping with the Foundation’s mission to embrace a more racially and ethnically diverse and inclusive environment in the Chippewa Valley, students in high school grades 9 to 12 were invited to participate in the educational initiative on global citizenship, civil society, and diversity in the context of local communities in the Chippewa Valley. Ten students were selected for their thoughtful essays on the topics.
The winners are: Quentin Hable, Sing Lee Her, Aria Hite, Daniel Luer, Abhlicaja Lor, Seng Moua, Nitkayli Tillery, and Elizabeth Wiegel, all of North High School in Eau Claire, Anna Hansen of Memorial High School, and Kailyn Walukus, a homeschooled junior. Each student was awarded a cash prize of $300.
Student essays addressed questions related to their understanding of racial, gender, and cultural diversity in their community, addressed the contributions of immigrant communities, discussed how the religion of Islam has positively integrated itself into modern American culture and society, how the history of the Muslim community in the Chippewa Valley enriched the local culture, and how the goals of the Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations (UDHR) and how climate change is relevant to our community.
One goal of the contest is to encourage youth in the Chippewa Valley to consider and appreciate the diversity within their own community. The hope is that local high school teachers of English, social studies, history and other fields, will challenge their students to enter the contest. That is what Melissa Amyotte-Stokes, who teaches Advanced Placement English at North High School, asked of her students. Ms. Amyotte-Stokes commented about students entering the competition, “As my students began delving into their chosen prompts, they recognized the importance of appreciating other cultures, religions, and lifestyles as an integral part of their own lives and of our community. I’m proud of the gains they made at a task that, at first, intimidated them, but they forged ahead, established strong opinions, and listened to the voices of their hearts.”
Chris Meyer, a Director of the Foundation’s Board, is very interested in students learning and sharing about the community. Meyer said, “I helped review several of the contest submissions. I find it very encouraging that so many students are willing to take the time to write such excellent papers on the subject of ethnic tolerance, cooperation and genuine appreciation of ‘the other.’ It bodes well for our collective future!”
Another goal is for students to learn more about the Muslim community in the Chippewa Valley and its contributions including the activities of the Islamic Society of Northern Wisconsin, the Altoona Masjid, which Dr. Mahmoud S. Taman co-founded in 1991. In her essay, Kailyn Walukus writes,
As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, I have had the opportunity to visit the Altoona Masjid and learn about Islam from people of the faith. I have also attended interfaith services, some of which were hosted at my congregation. My family and I have experienced incredible hospitality and openness from Muslims in the Chippewa Valley. In 2015, my family and I were invited to attend the Eid al-Adha celebration by one of my father’s coworkers. I was honored to have the privilege of participating in a religious celebration of a religion other than my own. Being able to experience fellowship with people of other religions as well as the hospitality of local Muslims has positively shaped my views of Islam.
Several of the winning essays, including Sing Lee Her’s, wrote about the contribution of the Hmong community to the region.
“With their contributions to the Chippewa Valley community, there has been an increase in the number of businesses. There are more Hmong individuals who are willing to help students, to assist the school board, and to share information about the Hmong culture. If the Hmong clans continue to engage, the Chippewa Valley will sustain strong connection among its communities.”
Quintin Hable
Quentin Hable is a junior at North in Eau Claire. His hobbies and activities include playing the flute in his school band and for Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony. He entered the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because spreading awareness about the issues highlighted in this essay contest are important to him. He believes his community is an amazing musical center with a lot of potential. His future plans after high school are to attend UWEC and participate in the Blugold marching band. In his lifetime, he wishes to achieve financial success and to benefit society.
Sing Lee Her
Sing Lee Her is a senior at North High School in Eau Claire. Her hobbies and activities include playing soccer, playing the violin in orchestra, running, singing, and dancing. She entered the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because she wanted to inform the Chippewa Valley about the Hmong community and how they have contributed to make the Chippewa Valley a better place. She believes the Chippewa Valley is full of many personalities and it is impossible to find a place where you won’t fit in. Her future plans are to go to college and major in civil engineering. She hopes to design and build her own house one day.
Aria Hite
Aria Hite is a junior at North High School in Eau Claire. Her activities include captain of the drum-line, section leader in the wind ensemble, National Honor Society, and commissioner for the student leadership organization, Link Crew. She is a community volunteer at the Mayo Clinic STEP Force, Family Promise, and Feed My People. Through research for her essay she learned that that outstanding leaders are working for awareness and education resulting in Hmong and Latino community members thriving in the Chippewa Valley. She believes the Chippewa Valley will continue to grow in its inclusion and acceptance of diversity through the passionate and dedicated efforts of its leaders. Aria’s plan is to study biology and she intends to become a trauma or neurosurgeon because she wants to make a significant impact in the lives of individuals facing critical, uncertain circumstances.
Daniel Luer
Daniel Luer is a junior at North High School in Eau Claire. His hobbies and activities include art and graphic design, gaming, and photography. He believes his community, the Chippewa Valley, provides a safe place to foster diversity with plenty of space to grow and improve in the future. In his lifetime, he wishes to achieve a meaningful career working to protect nature in order to improve resources and health for people everywhere.
Abhlicja Lor
Abhlicja Lor is a junior at North High School. Her hobbies and activities include writing stories, reading, working, volunteering, and being a role model for others. She entered the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because she wanted to share how the Hmong community has made significant contributions to the Chippewa Valley. Her future plans after high school are to attend university and become a successful author. She also wishes to travel to Japan and continue to study Japanese there.
Seng Moua
Seng Moua is a junior at North High School in Eau Claire. Her hobbies and activities include playing flute in band and drawing. She entered the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because she believes diversity is an essential part of inclusivity and acceptance. She believes the Chippewa Valley is welcoming and a great place to live. Her future plans are to attend university and then pharmacy school. In her lifetime, she wishes to achieve a greater understanding of other cultures and mindsets.
Nitkayli Tillery
Nitkayli Tillery is a junior at North High School. She enjoys running, both cross-country and track, and being a member of the North High School dance team. She believes the Chippewa Valley is very inclusive of its diverse communities. She hopes for a lifetime of happiness fulfilled by helping others.
Kailyn Walukus
Kailyn Walukus is a homeschooled junior in Eau Claire. Her hobbies and activities include running cross country and track, playing violin and piano, singing in choir, and dancing. She entered the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because it provided an opportunity to research and learn about an important topic. She hopes that she will be able to use what she has learned to help combat negative stereotypes about people of different faiths. She believes the Chippewa Valley is filled with loving, passionate people committed to expanding education and making the area a welcoming place for all. Her future plans are to attend college to pursue a degree in mathematics. In her lifetime, she wishes to travel and learn as much as she can about different cultures.
Elizabeth Wiegel
Elizabeth Wiegel is a junior at North High School in Eau Claire where she competes on the math and forensics teams. She believes the Chippewa Valley is steadily improving in its diversity and inclusiveness. Elizabeth plans to study math and political science in college.
Anna Hansen
Anna Hansen is a senior at Memorial High School in Eau Claire where she is involved in volleyball, track and orchestra. She entered the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because the theme is relevant and important to her. She plans to attend UW-Stout and become a math teacher.
Essay Contest Winners 2018
The Mahmoud S Taman Foundation is pleased to announce six awardees for its 2018 essay contest, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. In keeping with the Foundation’s mission to embrace a more racially and ethnically diverse and inclusive environment in the Chippewa Valley, students in high school grades 9 to 12 were invited to participate in the educational initiative on global citizenship, civil society, and diversity in the context of local communities in the Chippewa Valley. The six students were selected for their thoughtful essays on the topics.
The winners are: Abagail Opsal, a 2018 graduate of McDonell Central Catholic High School in Chippewa Falls, Megan Hu, a rising senior at Memorial High School in Eau Claire, Mingyu (Michael) Liu, a rising junior at Regis High School in Eau Claire, Nati Raehl, a 2018 graduate also from Regis High School, Wyatt Eiden, a 2018 graduate of Chippewa Falls Senior High School, and Regina Gravrok, a rising senior at Holy Family Home School in Eau Claire. Each student was awarded a cash prize of $200 or $300.
Student essays addressed questions related to their understanding of racial, gender, and cultural diversity mean in their community, addressed the contributions of immigrant communities in the area, discussed how the religion of Islam positively integrated itself into modern American culture and society and how the history of the Muslim community in the Chippewa Valley enriched the local culture, or how the goals of the Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations is relevant to our community.
The essence of the contest is highlighted in this excerpt from Megan’s Hu’s essay:
“Looking across the Chippewa Valley, closest to home is my high school’s changing face. For an uncomfortably long time, Memorial has been a place where diversity and its celebration has quite simply not been a reality. I stand as part of the 13% of our student body that is a racial minority. In 2018 on Martin Luther King Day, Memorial High School hosted the first Diversity Day in its history. We lent our voices to poems, spoke to an auditorium of our classmates, and got over our fears of being different to sing songs of peace. We worked our hardest, not to erase each of our rich identities but to celebrate them.”
Thom Chisholm, M.D., a director of the Foundation’s board said, “The six student winners represent thoughtful and dedicated youth leaders in our community and the Foundation commends.”
Abigail Opsal
Abagail Opsal is a 2018 graduate of McDonell Central Catholic High School. Her hobbies and activities include volleyball, basketball, reading, writing, baking, and spending time with friends and family. She entered the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because she strongly stands with the Foundation’s mission and believes the people in the Chippewa Valley are always willing to help one another. Abagail plans is to attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison majoring in biochemistry. She hopes to complete a PhD in pharmacy and leave a positive impact on every person she encounters in her life.
Wyatt Eiden
Wyatt Eiden, a 2018 graduate of Chippewa Falls Senior High School, enjoys slacklining (rope balancing), and the outdoors. He believes the Chippewa Valley is full of amazing people who change the lives of others. Wyatt plans is to attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison and pursue an education in one of the medical fields. He wishes to help as many people as he can in his lifetime.
Megan Hu
Megan Hu is a rising senior at Memorial High School in Eau Claire whose activities include playing flute in band and orchestra, acting as a coordinator for Women’s March Wisconsin, and regularly volunteering at the Bolton Refuge House. Her plans after high school are to attend college and she is searching for a field of interest. In her lifetime, she wishes to actively take part in the journey to see our communities become a more diverse, inclusive place through activism.
Nati Raehl
Nati Raehl is a 2018 graduate from Regis High School. His hobbies and activities include playing football and tennis. He entered the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion essay contest because as an African-American immigrant he thought he had something to add to the conversation. He believes his community, the Chippewa Valley, has been a welcoming one. His future plans after high school are to study Sports Management at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. In his lifetime, he wishes to find a fulfilling job, raise a family, and give back to his community.
Regina Gravrok
Regina Gravrok is a rising senior at Holy Family Home School in Eau Claire. She plays piano, competes in speech and takes taekwondo. She believes diversity is the key to strong community and that the Chippewa Valley showcases this diversity. Regina’s future plans including pursuing a degree in business and finance. She hopes that her life will be full of fulfilling, quality relationships. Regina won the Lake Hallie Optimists Essay Contest in Feb 2018.
Michael Liu
Mingyu (Michael) Liu, a rising junior at Regis High School in Eau Claire. His hobbies are playing tennis, playing clarinet in band, and participating in mock trial. Michael wanted his essay to express his belief in the importance of diversity in today’s world. He believes his community is a place where everyone belongs. He wishes to pursue high education and make a change in the world for the better.