2022 Winners
1st Place
Fatoumata Traoré
Longview High School, Austin, Texas
I am currently a sophomore at Longview High School in Longview, Texas. I’ve always been about giving back to people who need it most; likewise, I value being relatable to those around me because I know how it feels to be alienated. One of the many activities I indulge in is playing volleyball at the varsity level and Club volleyball outside of school. I correspondingly intern at my local art museum, where I enjoy working on my professionalism while incorporating my passion for the arts. Beyond sports, I am a National Honor Society member and partake in the Environmental club, Mental health club, and Zonta club. Following high school, I plan to pursue a Business Law major and hopefully, one day, start my firm.
2nd Place
Savannah Miller
Kincaide School, Houston, Texas
Savannah Miller is a junior at the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas. As a member of her school’s debate team, she enjoys argumentation and research, along with public policy, as an aspiring lawyer in public international law. Savannah’s other passions lie in learning languages (she loves studying both French and Spanish and hopes to become a polyglot) and mentoring middle school students and ninth graders in their transition to high school. Additionally, Savannah is co-president of the Wellness Committee at her school which promotes physical, mental, and emotional wellness through movie nights and wellness-themed days. Outside of school, Savannah can be found knitting, reading, watching Netflix, playing board games, and petting one of her three dogs.
3rd Place
Madisyn Bedair
Madisyn Bedair is a junior at Gladewater High School in Gladewater, TX, and is very active in her school and community. She is her theater department’s stage manager and a member of the National Honor Society. In her school’s band program she serves as the clarinet section leader and has made the All-State Band for two years and counting. Because of her passion for music, Madisyn also volunteers her time playing in the East Texas Symphonic Band. Madisyn is also a founding member of The Bear Necessities, a student-run leadership and service program where she mentors younger students and betters her community. In her rare moments of spare time, Madisyn can be found with a good book, baking, or on a spontaneous road trip. At the top of her class, Madisyn plans to continue her education, major in architecture, and leave her mark on the world.
Honorable Mention
Iris Cheng
Seven Lakes High School, Katy, Texas
Iris Cheng is a junior at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. She currently serves as captain of her school’s speech and debate team and loves anything related to national or state level politics. Within her local community, she contributes to Fort Bend County JudgeKP George’s Youth Leadership Program and the City of Houston’s Teen Court. As Chinese-American English Second Language (ESL) speaker, she embraces the collaborative power of linguistics and its capacity to bridge social, academic and professional disparities. Outside of debate and politics, she loves to ski, shop, and spend time with her little brother, Bennett Noah. In college, she plans to major in business or public policy with a minor in East Asian studies. In the future, Iris hopes to pursue a career in civil or corporate law with a special interest in representing women of color in the field.
Honorable Mention
Margaret Jordan
Highland Park High School, Dallas, Texas
My name is Margaret Jordan and I am a rising senior at Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. I’m a pitcher on the varsity softball team and I enjoy spending time with my teammates on and off the field. Apart from softball, my favorite hobbies are drawing, painting, and sculpting. Since elementary school, I have dreamed of being a doctor. I plan to carry out with that dream and pursue medical school after college.