Announcing Winners for the peta2 Scholarship June 25, 2007

Hello ladies and gentlemen. After reading more than 1,500 entries submitted to the first ever peta2 scholarship contest, we've finally chosen winners.

If you recall, the deal was that one high school student and one university student would each win $500 towards their education, plus a nice certificate. The call for submissions asked for students to "tell us how you plan to use the skills you learn in college to help animals." We left it pretty open to students to express themselves, received a terrific response, and are pleased to congratulate Elizabeth Smith from Maryland and Cherie Leader from Kansas as the winners!

Since you’re probably dying to see what the winners wrote, here is Elizabeth’s essay:


"In college I want to be a business major. Anyone who knows me might stare in wonder, after all, business is the last thing I'm interested in. But that's what an animal shelter is, a business, and having an animal shelter is what I want to do. What better way is there to help animals than taking them in when they're lost and caring for them until they find a new loving home? And when is a better time to reach people about the issues of animal rights? When is a heart more open than when it is cooing over a beloved new friend?

People who come to animal shelters looking to adopt often come with open hearts and open ears; they are willing to learn about the plights of animals used for fur, meat, leather, entertainment, and testing. Like the waiting room in a doctor's office, an animal shelter can be covered in informative posters, scattered with pamphlets, and play that video that you're not quite sure you want to watch, but can't look away from all the same (Meet Your Meat, anyone?). Of course, running an animal shelter isn't all fuzzy bunnies and happy endings. There's lots of hard work involved, not the least of which are fundraising and organization. It takes a strong and confident businesswoman to handle it all. And to be a strong businesswoman, I need college to prepare me. I'll need skills in management, accounting, marketing, and leadership among other things.

To fulfill my dream and to help animals, I will go to college and work hard. I will work hard, but I will also have fun, and in having fun I will spread the word of animal rights even farther. There will be ample opportunities, at concerts, conventions, and clubs, to hand out pamphlets or talk to people. Every time that I dine, people will learn a little bit more about veganism. When a girl asks about my funky makeup or cute boots she'll learn a little bit more about testing or leather. Knowledge is the path to action and freedom for the animals and since a little bit more always leads to a little bit more, the knowledge will grow, and the movement will spread. Animal rights is my cause, my inspiration, my motivation. Wherever I go, whatever I do, I'll be spreading the word. College is just another step taking me higher so I can shout a little louder and reach a few more ears."

And here is Cherie’s essay:


"You cannot make a difference if you refuse to pay attention to the problem. That is my personal mission statement. I formed this statement 3 years ago after I stumbled across a peta2 booth at Warped Tour 2004. I had not known any of the problems that were going on because I ignored the problem. Not only had I ignored the problem, but the media around me seemed to be ignoring the problem.

I realized that the information I received from PETA is a form of journalism and graphic design and decided that this was my purpose in life. I want to help give people information so that they can help me make the world a better place for all living creatures. More specifically, I want to become a photojournalist and use my talents to help expose the truth. The pictures are what first grab the reader's attention in a news article and I want my pictures to entice potential readers to dive into the articles.

I want people to look at my pictures and realize that there are things going on in this world that they are not aware of, or that they are ignoring. My pictures will make it hard for readers to ignore the harsh cruelty that is happening not only to animals, but to all living creatures. If we all would pay attention to the world's problems and make a stand the world would be a better place, and this is what I intend to do."



Thanks to all who wrote in and keep an eye on peta2.com for more great contests and ways to help animals.

-Pulin

Posted by Pulin

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