The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah announced the winners of its 2009 youth scholarship awards?, commending all applicants for defending constitutional rights.
James Jorgen, a senior at Grand County high school in Moab, was recognized by the panel for his near-constant advocacy encouraging students to voice their opinions, according to a release from the ACLU.
Through volunteer work, Kristin Dobbin, a senior at West High, has advocated for the rights of the disabled and has become an active participant in politics. Mariam Meite, from Logan High, initiated a dialogue series at her school on race and regularly volunteers at a local day care reading to children, the release said.
The three winners were selected by a community panel who considered each applicant's dedication to civil liberties, the personal challenges each had overcome and leadership they had displayed in their work.
The applicant pool was comprised of high school seniors from around the state. The winners will be entered to win one of 16 $12,500 scholarship awards from the national ACLU office.
— Clayton Norlen