The Gülen Institute at the University of Houston and the Rumi Forum presented the 2012 YOUTH PLATFORM AWARD CEREMONY.
“Creating solutions for the challenges faced by children today”
Washington, DC and New York City
May 28-June 2, 2012
Gülen Institute awarded 35 essay contest winners from around the world with a trip to Washington, D.C.
The Youth Platform is an annual international essay contest open to all high school students. More than 1,300 entries were received in 2012 from 65 countries and 45 US states, each addressing the distinct challenges that children face in today’s world. 35 contest winners were awarded a 5-day trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City. The award ceremony was held at the House of Representatives’ Rayburn House Office Building on May 30.
The first place prize went to Alexander Kamberov from Bulgaria for his essay on child soldiers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ruby Guo from the United States took second place for her research on child labor. Jae Woo Jang from the Philippines, who addressed the issue of human trafficking, won third place.
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Congress members Gene Green and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Tom Petri of Wisconsin attended the ceremony. Prof. Tom Gage from Humboldt State University chaired the Youth Platform for the third straight year. We thank him for his vision and leadership. Members of Congress David Dreier of California, Joseph Heck of Nevada, Greg Walden of Oregon, Lynn Jenkins of Kansas, and Frank R. Wolf of Virginia received the students in their offices and congratulated them on behalf of their constituencies.
We congratulate all the students, their parents, and their educators and wish them the best in their future academic endeavors.
http://www.guleninstitute.org/