Stand Out Student Essays
To engage those who visit our exhibits we, on occasion, organize essay contests challenging students to reflect on their experience. Below, discover these thoughtful writing pieces by young scholars.
University of Alaska Southeast- November, 2022
Contest Winner: Adonis Scalia
Guest Judge: Ron Haeberle, the Army photographer who took the photographs of the My Lai Massacre on March 16, 1968, photographs that changed America's perception of the war when they were published in LIFE Magazine on December 5, 1969.
Adonis Scalia, a freshman, won the top prize for the essay contest at the University of Alaska Southeast. They are majoring in biology with a minor in creative writing. Adonis was born in Las Vegas and was raised in Madison, Mississippi. Their step-father is a debt collector. Their mother is attending law school. And their biological father is an Attorney.
Adonis’ winning essay was uniquely reflective and empathetic. They considered deeply the varied experiences of all involved in the war and its ongoing legacy:
“Learning these lessons about Vietnam is one of the most important things I’ve done. These people fought and died in foreign jungles, surrounded by strangers, killing strangers. Came home to fight their government, which swore to protect them. Continue to still fight to this day with their trauma, or with the government. We cannot afford to pretend that My Lai didn’t happen. We must listen to these voices when they speak, and share stories of their struggle. ”
Congratulations, Adonis for your heartfelt writing!
University of Washington- Seattle- November, 2022
Contest Winner: Charles Vo
Guest Judge: Nick Ut, photographer who took the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of Phan Thị Kim Phúc, also known as the "Napalm Girl."
The winner of the best essay award at the University of Washington Seattle, is Charles Vo, a senior who was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. His father is a custodian and his mother works in a nail salon. His father, a soldier with the South Vietnamese ARVN, spent five years in a re-education camp before finally emigrating to the United States in 1995. Charles hopes to attend law school and indicates that he has "political ambitions."
Charles’ winning essay was a very personal and introspective piece in reaction to the exhibit. He discussed his father’s experience in the ARVN and how each of their lives created different understandings of peace and freedom. He concludes with a question and commitment:
“Do I follow in my father’s footsteps as well? My father was never meant to be a man of war, nor should anyone have to
be. Having been inspired by the voices found in the Waging Peace exhibit, I have decided to fight for freedom.”
Congratulations, Charles for sharing this work!
From left- Jim Aldrich, Treasurer, San Francisco Veterans For Peace Chapter 69, Contest Winner Tiffany Trumble, and Craig McNamara, author.
University of San Francisco- April, 2022
Contest Winner: Tiffany Trumble
Guest Judge: Craig McNamara, author of Because Our Fathers Lied: A Memoir of Truth and Family from Vietnam to Today. Craig is the son of the late Robert S. McNamara, Vietnam War-era U.S. Secretary of Defense.
When our original exhibit was display in April at the University of San Francisco, it was also accompanied by an essay contest asking contestants to respond to what the Waging Peace in Vietnam exhibit meant to them and its lessons for today.
The winning essay was submitted by Tiffany Trumble, an Army veteran who discussed the affects of indoctrination and propaganda and what it takes to resist it. She concludes that we should never blindly follow what we are told:
“The government, a most talented organization promoting violence and propaganda, does one thing particularly well: indoctrination....I spent seven years in the U.S. Army, and I am ashamed to admit I glorified the fight of America against “all enemies, both foreign and domestic.” ”
Congratulations, Tiffany for sharing this poignant piece!
From left- Abigail Stallard, Contest Winner Samuel Longo, John Falchi, Xela Sarmiento, SDVFP President Jim Brown, Le Ly Haslip, Professor Kathryn Statler and Samantha Lopez-Diez
University of San Diego- March, 2022
Contest Winner: Samuel Longo
Guest Judge: Le Ly Hayslip, author of When Heaven and Earth Change Places.
Accompanying the presentation of our My Lai Exhibit, the San Diego Chapter of Veterans for Peace sponsored an essay contest and offered a $500 prize. Participants were asked to respond to the exhibit, explaining what it means to them and its lessons for today.
The winning essay was by Samuel Longo who described how learning about My Lai has provided a lesson that he will carry with him. In his words:
“As someone two months away from commissioning as an officer in the U.S. military, learning about My Lai has had a major impact on me.... History will remember that the U.S. Army carried out the My Lai massacre much longer than it will remember the name of Lt. William Calley.”
Congratulations to Samuel for his contemplative entry!
From left- Professor Greg Daddis, Charles Ballwan, Contest Winner Molly Scheid, Isabella Canale, Kyra Honey, and SDVFP President Jim Brown
San Diego State University- March, 2022
Contest Winner: Molly Scheid
Guest Judge: Craig McNamara, author of Because Our Fathers Lied: A Memoir of Truth and Family from Vietnam to Today. Craig is the son of the late Robert S. McNamara, Vietnam War-era U.S. Secretary of Defense.
While our original exhibit was on display at San Diego State University, The San Diego Chapter of Veterans for Peace also made possible an essay contest, for which they offered a $500 prize. Participants were prompted to respond to what the Waging Peace in Vietnam exhibit meant to them and its lessons for today.
The winning essay was submitted by Molly Scheid who sought to challenge cynics who think they can not make impact on important issues. She wrote:
“The tragedies in our world can feel overwhelming at times. Police brutality in the U.S., endless war in the Middle East, humanitarian crises ravaging Yemen, are all constantly claiming innocent lives.
Hearts that weren’t ready to stop beating.
Minds that weren’t ready to stop thinking.
Souls that weren’t ready to stop wandering.”
Congratulations, Molly!
From Left- Edgardo Colon-Emerick, Director Duke Divinity School's Center for Reconciliation, Contest Winner Micah Latimer-Dennis, Carolyn Forche, Guest Judge, Douglas Ryder, President, Veterans For Peace Eisenhower Chapter.
Duke University- January, 2020
Contest Winner: Micah Latimer-Dennis
Guest Judge: Carolyn Forché, nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in poetry and author of the memoir What You Have Heard is True, a finalist for the National Book Award.
The Waging Peace in Vietnam Exhibit organized an essay contest for North Carolina Triangle area students with a $500 prize provided by the Triangle Area Veterans for Peace. The contest was seeking the best essay on the prompt: “Waging Peace in Vietnam: What it means to me and its lessons for today.”
The winning essay from Duke University is by Micah Latimer-Dennis, a student at Duke Divinity School. It includes this passage:
“I learned from this exhibit that, just as in Vietnam, veterans and soldiers in subsequent conflicts have been the first to alert their fellow Americans to the betrayals of our nation’s ideals. They have spoken up about what they saw. For this service they have been called traitors and cowards. The stories and photos on display [in the Waging Peace in Vietnam exhibit] show the truth: that these are people brave enough to speak up when the ideals of our common life come under threat.”
Congratulations to Micah!
From Left- Contest Winner Zaynab Quadri, Linda Yarr, Director of GWU’s Partnerships for International Strategies in Asia.
George Washington University- November, 2019
Contest Winner: Zaynab Quadri
Guest Judge: Oliver Stone, academy award winning director for Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July.
Our first essay contest, held at George Washington University, offered a prize for the best essay on the subject of “The Waging Peace in Vietnam Exhibit: What it Means to Me and Lessons for Today.”
The winning essay from GWU, was submitted by Zaynab Quadri, an American Studies student. She was presented the award by Linda Yarr, the Director of GWU’s Partnerships for International Strategies in Asia. And, the prize money was provided by Veterans For Peace Chapter 34.
Zaynab’s writing closes with a compelling summary:
“The Vietnam War is a fraught but essential human story. This exhibition provided a rich, provocative, and deeply moving opportunity to remember both the horror we are capable of inflicting on one another, and our simultaneous potential to empathize across time and borders, and grapple with what kind of world we might create, if only we are wise and brave enough to create it.”
Great work, Zaynab!