Previous
McKeown Scholars essay topics
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| 2009 |
Please
elaborate on your hopes and concerns for the new Obama administration
and for the future of our nation, especially in light of the
enormous challenges to today's American economy. If you were
a senior advisor to President Obama, what advice would you
give him?
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| 2008 |
In
your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facing your generation
right now, or in the future? How will this challenge affect
you personally, and what ideas do you have for dealing with
this issue? |
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| 2007 |
Why
would you like or dislike the idea of someday owning and operating
your own business? What are your current thoughts about what
that business might be and how it might serve/benefit the
community?
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2006
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Evaluate
a risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have
faced, and its impact on you. What led to this occurrence
in your life, how did you address it, and how did it affect
you as a developing person?
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| 2005 |
Identify
what you believe to be the single most significant issue or
problem facing your community at present, and prepare a persuasive
argument to convince your city/town administrators to act
upon your proposed solution to this issue/problem.
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| 2004 |
This
being a presidential election year, you are invited to speak
before your high school graduating class about the importance
of your newly earned right to vote. Specifically, explain
the significance of this right to you as a young adult, and
to the American way of life. How would you advise your classmates
to responsibly exercise this right? What inherent responsibilities
do you feel come with it?
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| 2003 |
"The
year is 2053, and you are speaking to an assembly of students
at this high school. You have been asked to comment about
the upcoming 50th anniversary of the international crisis
of 2003. What would you say to the students about the global
situation, reflecting on your own reaction to world issues
when you were their age in 2003?"
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| 2002 |
“Describe
any thing(s) in your life that has/have changed since the
national tragedies of September 11, 2001. How do you believe
your life may or may not be permanently altered by these events?
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2001
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“You
are assigned to mentor a junior high or middle school student,
in preparation for his or her entrance into high school. Identify
and explain three of the most important lessons you can impart
to the student, based upon your own high school experience
as it prepared you for adulthood.”
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2000
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“Identify
what you believe to be the single most significant issue or
problem facing your community at present, and prepare a persuasive
argument to convince your city/town administrators to act
upon your proposed solution to the issue/problem.”
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1999
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“Your
community has been nominated as one of 20 finalists across
the nation in TIME Magazine's 1999 Top 10 Municipalities of
America competition. Your 500-word essay, to be read by the
selection committee, will determine whether your city/town
is or is not selected as a winner. Please prepare this essay,
offering in a highly persuasive manner all reasons why the
community where you reside should receive this prestigious
recognition. Write and edit your document, as necessary, using
all time allotted.”
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McKeown
Scholars Award Winners
($5,000 each through 2009; $10,000 each* beginning 2010)
Listed alphabetically, by city: |
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