Twenty-five students won a total of $224,000 in scholarships at the 58th Annual Citizenship Education Conference sponsored by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs' Public Affairs Program and held April 26 in Maxwell and Eggers halls. One hundred twenty-one of the brightest high school seniors who have applied to Syracuse University competed while discussing their ideas on how the government can encourage better money management.
The topic of this year's papers was "Public Policy Proposals to Increase Opportunities for Children in Poverty in the United States." The proposals ranged from improving pre-kindergarten programs to providing more health care services and school choice.
The papers, which were graded prior to the conference, each recommend a government action that the student thinks should be considered. The proposed public policies can be targeted at the local, state, federal or international levels and can require local, state or federal action. Each paper contains an overview of the student's stand on the issue; an explanation of the problems addressed and the proposed solution; a description of financial, legislative and administrative requirements the policy would have to meet; and a plan for evaluating the costs and benefits of the policy.
Half of the students' scores were based on their written analysis of the policy issue. The remainder was determined by their ability to persuade their peers to support their proposed public policy. Students presented their proposals to small peer groups, who discussed and rated the presentations.
"The students' leadership skills are measured by the degree to which their peers see them as leaders," says Coplin. "They need to do whatever it takes to impress their peers - whether it is with their knowledge, leadership style or ability to communicate."
Participants completed an evaluation form judging the leadership qualities and public policy analysis capabilities of the other members of the group. This evaluation determined the student's score for the exercise.
The peer score was then combined with the score the students received on their papers. The student with the highest score, Richard Levy of Leominster, Mass., was awarded an annual scholarship of $5,000. The second-highest scorer, Theodore Mottola III of Marlboro, N.J., received a $4,000-a-year scholarship and the third highest scorer, Lindsey Gil of Howell, N.J., received a $3,000-a-year scholarship. The next 22 highest scorers won $2,000-a-year scholarships. They are:
Bridgette Ames of Black River, N.Y.; Melissa Apostolidis of Marlton, N.J.; Lauren Axelrod of Swampscott, Mass.; Drew D. Blan, of Columbiana, Ohio; Rebecca Crockett of Baltimore, Md.; Dennis Delisle of Neshanic Station, N.J.; Katherine Frohman of Towson, Md.; Michael M. Janela of Parlin, N.J.; Kristen Jones of Howell, N.J.; Maura Judkis of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Jason Kassoy of Swampscott, Mass.; and Virginia Kozlowski of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; John Liberatore of Auburn, N.Y.; Kathleen Maclary of Middleton, Mass.; Christopher A. Mason of Rochester, N.Y.; Ian S. Milliken of Elmira, N.Y.; Lewis C. Moon of N. Potomac, Md.; Thomas R. Moran of Bedford, Mass.; Stefanie Perrella of Hockessin, Del.; Melissa Ryan of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.; and Jacquelyn Santa Lucia of Flemington, N.J.
