Verizon YouthTech Essay Contest to Honor Philadelphia Students
(Philadelphia, PA) - On Thursday, June 16, 2005, thirty 9th through 12th graders from the Philadelphia area high schools will be honored for using technology to transform their communities in innovative ways. This spring, the Verizon Foundation, in partnership with United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania conducted the Second Annual Verizon YouthTech Essay Contest that challenged young people to find ways to use technology to improve their communities by engaging and utilizing technology.

Contest winners will be presented with awards for first, second and third place. The 10 first place contest winners will receive a new personal computer, the 10 second prize winners will receive an Apple iPod, and 10 third prize winners will receive a refurbished personal computer. The Verizon YouthTech Contest Recognition Ceremony will take place on June 16, 2005 at 5:00 pm, at the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, located on 17th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Thirty talented and creative students were chosen as winners, and will be given awards, but most importantly the top three essay winners will be given a chance to see their ideas come to reality. United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Teaming For Technology (T4T) initiative will provide guidance, assistance in implementation and design to help the top three first place winners bring their innovative ideas to life. Students will meet with T4T staff as part of the planning process to implement their visions.

The top three first place winners are:

· Amir Brown – Jules E. Mastbaum AVTS
Amir’s winning essay proposed the development of “The Ultimate Scientific Activity Recreation Center.” The center will expose youth to new technology and use it as a tool to unify the community through knowledge.

· Hahna Maree Kane – Springside School
Hahna’s winning essay dealt with the issue of women and technology through her “Student Tech Leaders Program.” It aims to cultivate a population of technologically fluent citizens within the Springside community.

· Dan Lieberman – Friends’ Central School
Dan’s winning essay was about a website entitled “Teen Zone Online (www.teenzoneonline.com)" a teen-run online newspaper. Teen Zone strives to expose the Philadelphia region to voices that often go unheard.

Complete Results from the 2005 Verizon YouthTech Contest

First Place:

Amir Brown – Jules E. Mastbaum AVTS
Keyanna Butler – Prep Charter High School
Charles G. Carroll III – Central High School
Maria Hong – Central High School
Jessica Nicole Jones - Jules E. Mastbaum AVTS
Hahna Maree Kane – Springside School
Dan Lieberman – Friends’ Central School
Michael Morrison – Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Hetwortha Suthar - Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Jezerey Weiderman – Central High School

Second Place:

Eric Brown - Jules E. Mastbaum AVTS
Jessica Carter - Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Chinyere B. Ebo – University City High School
Michael Gatto - Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Dorian James – Simon Gratz High School
Jenny Mejia - Jules E. Mastbaum AVTS
Mia Poulson - Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Javier Sanchez - Jules E. Mastbaum AVTS
Robert Scott – Mastery Charter High School
Charmaine Shifaw - Carver High School of Engineering and Science

Third Place:

Ebony Anderson – Murrel Dobbins AVTS
Ira Anthony Evans – New Media Technology Charter High School
Jason Francis
Michael Hayes – Mastery Charter High School
Mazllum Islami - Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Ashlee Jackson – John Bartram High School
Amauris Matos – Edison/Fareira High School
Charles Randall – Fells School
Sultan Sabur – George Washington High School

Congratulations to all the winners!!

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