Physicians for Social Responsibility
Sacramento Chapter

PSR/Sacramento announces the winners of the
2013 High School Scholarship Essay Contest

The prompt for this year's contest was a position statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (April 2000): “Firearm regulations, to include bans of handguns and assault weapons, are the most effective way to reduce firearm-related injuries.” The ten finalists presented their essays on April 28, 2013 at a dinner attended by 170 people at the Dante Club in Sacramento. View all ten finalists presenting their essays, courtesy of Media Edge.

First Place Finalist
Divya Bhaskar
Rio Americano High School, Sacramento

Hear her 4/29/13 interview (with Dr. Olivia Kasirye) on the
Capital Public Radio Insight program.

Second Place Finalist
Kyle Thielen
C.K. McClatchy High School, Sacramento

Third Place
C.K. McClatchy High School, Sacramento

Amber Conness
C.K. McClatchy High School, Sacramento

Faith Lemire-Baeten
Liberty Ranch High School, Galt

Molly Parsons
Davis Senior High School, Davis

Casey Stockel
Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay

Jeffrey Williams
Granite Bay High School, Roseville

Angela Yoder
Folsom High School, Folsom

The first, second, and third place finalists were chosen by a panel of distinguished judges from the community. Read their essays by clicking on their names. The first place finalist won a $3000 scholarship, second place a $2500 scholarship, and third place a $2000 scholarship. The other seven finalists each won $1000 scholarships and two alternate finalists $250 each. The judges were: former Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel, Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Julie Leftwich, former Sacramento mayor Anne Rudin, and Amanda Wilcox.

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make this year's scholarship contest a success, including everyone who attended the dinner, who helped read essays, and who contributed to the scholarship fund.

1-Student finalists, alternates+guest; 2-Lucas Brown, Kyle Thielen, Dr. Bill Durston, Divya Bhaskar