Please Join Us for a Special Evening | 2024 WCEC Awards Ceremony

NOTE: The event will take place in the Hamilton International Middle School Gym. The Gym entrance is at the back of the building off of Densmore Ave N. You will also find parking here and in the surrounding residential area.

The World Affairs Council's Global Classroom is excited to announce the celebration of our 2024 World Citizen Essay Contest (WCEC) winners and honorable mentions on Thursday, May 23rd, 2024, from 6:00 - 7:30 PM PT. For the 26th annual WCEC, students across Washington State were tasked with reflecting on the United Nations' (UN) call for youth involvement in shaping the future. They explored critical global issues affecting their generation, proposed action plans, and suggested how world leaders could support these initiatives, imagining themselves as presenters at the UN's Summit of the Future. With over 300 essay submissions, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to educators, parents, and students for their participation and dedication to uplifting youth voices.

The awards ceremony will take place at Hamilton International Middle School in Seattle, WA, and is free and open to all – including family, friends, educators, and community members. Doors open at 5:30 PM! The evening will begin with a keynote address and meaningful discussion on "Advancing Youth Global Engagement," followed by the recognition of our 2024 World Educator and 2024 WCEC winners across elementary, middle, and high school categories. First, second, and third place winners will be acknowledged and have the opportunity to share excerpts from their essays with attendees, followed by a special acknowledgment of Honorable Mentions. We extend a special thanks to our 2024 Prize Sponsors: FRS Clipper, the Seattle Storm, Seattle's Tall Ship, Stanley Cups, Seattle Seaplanes, Starbuck's, and San Juan Excursions. Keep scrolling to learn more about our 2024 WCEC Awards Ceremony and REGISTER TODAY! 

Keynote Address | Advancing Youth Global Engagement

SPEAKERS

Lisa Wellman represents 41st Legislative District (Mercer Island, Bellevue, Newcastle and parts of Issaquah, Sammamish, and Renton) in the Washington State Senate. She was elected in 2016 after a 25-year career in technology and marketing including executive level positions in Fortune 100 companies.

A passionate advocate for education, Lisa began her career as a public school teacher but changed course in the 1980s becoming a systems analyst and programmer. She was recruited by Apple Computer to head up commercial publishing for the company’s U.S. markets. Her success with Apple in the 90’s led to her promotion as VP of Worldwide Publishing, Entertainment and New Media Markets.

In the Senate, Lisa serves as the chair of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. She was also chosen by her colleagues to serve on the Energy, Environment & Technology Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee.

She serves on the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee, the Mastery Based Learning Workgroup, the Work Integrated Learning Advisory Committee, and is a mentor for MBA candidates at the Foster Business School at the University of Washington

She earned a B.A., Summa Cum Laude, from Barat College of DePaul University and in her spare time enjoys photography, travel, reading and bridge. She has two daughters and a grandson and resides on Mercer Island.

Kristine Reeves is a working mom who understands the balance between working hard to succeed and raising a family. That’s why she is a strong advocate for working families, protecting our kids, honoring our veterans, and sponsoring opportunities that fight for a future that includes us all.

A Moses Lake native, Kristine received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington State University (Go Cougs!) and went on to pursue a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Gonzaga University (Go Zags!) in Spokane.

She has served in a variety of roles, including Statewide Veterans Constituency Coordinator for U.S. Senator Patty Murray; Director of Economic Development for the Military and Defense sector at the state Dept. of Commerce, and now owns her own small business where she provides Community and Economic Development expertise that promotes cultural humility as a DEIB approach, is a certified project management professional, and uses her master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology to support businesses in their big ideas to help build bold solutions.

Kristine is currently pursuing her doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology at a Seattle-based university working to “assess political institutions as places of work that need to work better for women and people of color, so our democracy works best for us all.” Kristine lives in Federal Way with her husband and their two school-aged children.

MODERATOR 

Ryan Hauck is a teacher at Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, WA. As a teacher of comparative politics and international studies, he is often applauded for bringing the world into his classroom by engaging students around the importance of living in an increasingly interconnected, interdependent world. Over the last 15 years, Ryan has worked closely with the World Affairs Council and hosted numerous International Visitor Program delegations at his school. He has traveled to South Africa and Swaziland, returning to write curriculum for other teachers to use. Ultimately, Ryan wants his students to think critically about world issues, acquire the skills needed to be globally competent in the 21st century, and become actively engaged citizens locally, nationally, and internationally.

NOTE: Our first place winners in the elementary, middle, and high school categories will have the honor of joining our distinguished speakers on stage. They will have the opportunity to pose questions about advancing global education in Washington state and beyond.

Celebrating our 2024 World Educator

Stephanie King is a dynamic force at Granger High School, where she imparts her passion for English Language Arts while also guiding students towards University of Washington transcripts through the College in the High School program. Beyond academics, Stephanie is deeply involved in the school community, serving as a coach for both middle and high school girls' soccer teams and dedicating herself to extensive volunteer work.

With a lineage rooted in education—her parents being public school teachers—Stephanie's commitment to the field runs deep. She's not only a respected educator within her own school but also plays a pivotal role at the state level as a member of the Bridge to College leadership team and as Washington's representative for the NEA Foundation’s Global Learning Fellowship.

Stephanie's impact extends far beyond her classroom walls. She's a skilled grant writer, securing funds for various educational initiatives within her district, and her experiences as a Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms in Morocco are documented on her website, inspiring others with her international perspective. Through partnerships with news outlets and organizations, she champions student writing, amplifying their voices on broader platforms.

Her dedication to embedding global competencies into her curriculum has earned her recognition through fellowships with prestigious institutions like the Library of Congress, Pulitzer, and American University. But perhaps most importantly, Stephanie understands that education is about fostering connections and creating inclusive environments where all students feel valued. She prioritizes building relationships, taking time every Monday morning to engage with her students about their lives outside of school.

Stephanie's commitment to social emotional learning and equity is evident not only in her classroom but also in her role as a leader in professional development nationwide. By promoting these values, she ensures that education goes beyond just academics, fostering holistic growth and empowering students to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world. Click for full bio.

Click the blue buttons below to check out our 2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Winners and Honorable Mentions!

Thank you to our 2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Participating Schools:

Bryant Elementary School, McDonald Elementary School, The Lake and Park School, Summit Trail Middle School, Seattle Girls' School, Narrows View Intermediate School, Charles Wright Academy, Summit Public School: Atlas, Washington Virtual Academy Omak Middle School, Odle Middle School, Al Irfan Ladies College, Glacier Peak High School, Woodinville High School, Inglemoor High School, Raisbeck Aviation High School, Willows Preparatory High School, Eastside Preparatory School, International Community School, and Washington Preparatory School

A Special Thanks to our 2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Judges for your support of this event - We could not do this without all of you!

Emily Davies, Rosa Salazar, Guillaume Cravero, Olivia Kugiya, Mandy Toomey, Brandon Severance, Maya Sullivan, Tamara Leonard, Alicia Austin, Emily Gonzalez, João Pedro Alkamin de Almeida, Elinor Hansen, Cate Vonich, Sofi Gonstead, Kashish Sekhon, Chinyere Okoronkwo, Nick Pellett, Damon Smith Jr., Julie Kaegler, Nathan Sharpe, Taylor Ashford, Rebecca Carr, Santoshi Pisupati, Brighid Carlson, Jamesha Murry, Jessica Blogdett, Julianna Patterson, Emma Hansen, Lexie Garrity, Rachell Gulanes, Alexandra (Alex) Miller, Zenib Chaudhri, Julia Hall, Shalina Akins, Mary Gable, and Rhiannon Rasaretnam.

2024 Sponsored Awards

All 2024 WCEC  Winners will receive an insulated Stanley cup w/custom 2024 WCEC Decal & a Starbuck’s gift card for their dedication and passion for global education!

First Place

This year's first place prize is sponsored by FRS Clipper! Each winner will be awarded a gift certificate for an international but accessible Day Trip from Seattle to Victoria, B.C. on the Clipper for two!

Second Place

This year's second place prize is sponsored by the Seattle Storm! Each winner will be awarded a voucher for themselves and three friends/family to attend a Seattle Storm home game of their choosing!

Third Place

This year's third place prize is sponsored by Seattle's Tall Ship! Each winner will be awarded a voucher for themselves and one friend/family member to embark on a Sunset Cruise or cruise of their choosing!

2024 World Educator

This year the World Educator will be presented with a certificate of achievement, and will receive complimentary induction into our esteemed Fellows Program. They will also be granted the unique opportunity to conceive and lead a Global Classroom workshop, focusing on an issue of their choosing.

As a token of appreciation for their work to bring the world into the classroom, the 2024 World Educator will also receive a delightful gift certificate for two from Seattle Seaplanes, offering an exhilarating tour of Seattle's breathtaking sights.

San Juan Excursions has kindly donated a certificate for a Whale Watching and Wildlife Tour for one, for the 2024 World Educator runner up as well. 

A sincere thanks to our community partners for their continued support and sponsorship of these amazing experiences for our awardees!