THE TRUE PATRIOT NETWORK GRANTS $25,000 TO FEDERAL WAY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
U.S. CONGRESSMAN ADAM SMITH SPEAKS AT AWARD PRESENTATION
SEATTLE, WA --April 11, 2009--–
The True Patriot Network awarded Paige Edmiston of Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington a $25,000 college scholarship for winning The True Patriot National Essay Contest. To inspire the next generation of active and engaged citizens, The True Patriot authors Nick Hanauer and Eric Liu challenged American high school students to write the strongest essay answering the question, “What does true patriotism mean to you?” Edmiston’s essay, “A New Breed of Superhero for the 21st Century,” emerged as the winner among thousands of essays submitted by students across the nation.
The True Patriot Network co-founder Eric Liu praised Edmiston’s work: “A true patriot believes in something bigger than selfishness, and knows where she comes from. Paige's passionate essay reminds us that progressive patriotism is not just the vibe of the moment but also the call of our past and the promise of our future.”
Edmiston, a journalism enthusiast who founded her first newspaper in elementary school, wrote in her essay, “The superheroes of our history have been the reformers, the revolutionists, the adapters; the people of change, evolution, and progress.”
United States Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) joined Liu in awarding the prize to the Des Moines, Washington resident on April 10.
“Paige’s essay captures the essence of patriotism,” said Congressman Adam Smith. “By asking us to display our patriotism through actions and mutual respect, she encourages us to become invested in something larger than ourselves.”
“Paige is the kind of student that every teacher hopes to have during her career: intellectually curious, hard working, and passionate about knowledge,” Federal Way High School English teacher and journalism advisor Shannon Devlin noted. Edmiston, she added, is an “outstanding” AP English language and composition student and co-editor-in-chief of the school’s student newspaper, the Eagle Eye.