Congratulations to the following students who were selected by a panel of judges as the 2013-14 WaCLA High School Essay Contest winners:

First Place

Shelby Gordon (PDF)

Walla Walla High School in Walla Walla, WA

Second Place

Jake Vasilj (PDF)

Mead Senior High School in Spokane, WA

Third Place

Megan Ahrendt (PDF)

Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls, WA

The First Prize winner earned a $3,000 scholarship to a Washington Consortium for the Liberal Arts (WaCLA) school, the Second Prize winner earned a $2,000 scholarship to a WaCLA institution, and the Third Prize winner earned a $1,000 scholarship to a WaCLA school.  Winners must be admitted to and matriculate in a WaCLA institution to receive their scholarship.  Participating institutions can be viewed on the WaCLA home page.

This contest is part of the Washington Consortium for the Liberal Arts outreach program designed to promote the power and value of the liberal arts.  Numerous colleges and universities, both public and private, two-year and four-year, all across the state of Washington have come together to create a cohesive, coherent voice.

The student essays responded to the following prompt:

In no more than 500 words, discuss the relationship between the liberal arts and democratic principles.

On behalf of WaCLA, thank you for participating!

Michael Zimmerman, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

The Evergreen State College

Mission Statement:

The Washington Consortium for the Liberal Arts (WaCLA) is an association of Washington state public and private higher education institutions, organizations and individuals promoting the value of a liberal arts education to the people and communities of the state.