1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

White Hats: People Who Are Trying To Make A Difference

Teacher: Dea Podhajsky

Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington

1st Angie Park   2nd Kendall Piatt   3rd Kim Parish

"Setting up a club to get things done would be a step in the right direction. Working with the community would help a lot so it is not just the school-aged kids who do things, but the community as a whole. I think that these things would bring our community much closer together. If everyone in the United States takes pride in their schools, communities, and their country, then this will be the best country ever!!"
Stephanie Tritt, Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington

"What you find at most places is that there is a core group of about 20 people who do everything for their schools and community. These select few get everything done---or try to. At our school, now, more people are getting recognized for their efforts. [Seeing[ their names in the bulletin, receiving thank-you cards, or even a warm thank you in front of the student body, makes [students] feel special. Service projects have varied from cleaning yards, grocery shopping, doing errands, to just spending time with or cleaning up the community. [They] give [students] a chance to meet [and work with] alumni, neighbors, and senior citizens. I think we should let people know better about what is going on. Sometimes their excuse has been that they are not informed. I also believe that if students were given credit for so many hours of cleaning the city or for helping the elderly, many more students would help out." 
Stephanie Tritt, Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington

"It was much harder to find examples of good thing happening than it was of bad things happening. That is a little bit sad. It shows how dysfunctional our system of government is, when there are so many examples of situations where people get away with things that common sense tells us are definitely not right."
Kenny Curtis, Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington

"There was a law passed during the Civil War, under Lincoln's administration, that could prosecute gun powder manufacturers for mixing sawdust and gun powder. In so doing, they were defrauding the U.S. government. A private citizen could sue and whatever monies were retrieved by the government, the private citizen would collect a certain percentage. This law has been rediscovered today and several private citizens have collected 20 to 25 percent of legal settlements in favor of the government against government contractors found defrauding the U.S. government." 
Kenny Curtis, Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington

"All people come up with great ideas and thoughts, but only a few actually [put these ideas into practice.] The others just tell everyone else about their ideas so other people can do things. Ð Most people say if this or that could happen. How do you know something cannot happen unless you try it? "If you have tried to do something and failed, you are vastly better off than if you had tried to do nothing and succeeded." This quote basically states that if you at least try and fail it is better than doing absolutely nothing but sitting on your hind-end and succeeding. Many people do not want to do something for fear of failing and that is not right. many people say they will do something or set something up to be done but then have some excuse as to why they cannot go out and help. So many people want other people to use their ideas, that things never get done."
Stephanie Tritt, Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington

"There could be a small section in the local newspaper to promote good things that are happening, and about those people who are making it happen."
Meralee Jones, Kiona-Benton High School, Benton City, Washington

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