Previous Winners - The 2008-09 Student Essay Contest

The 2008-09 Student Essay Contest theme focused on relationships between people of divergent cultures, especially between The United States and developing nations. Essays addressed the following question:

With the kind support of the OCC Foundation awards include 1st $1,000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, with five honorable mentions worth $200.

Congratulations to these students and thank you to all 104 students who submitted an essay for the 2008-09 competition.

The 2008-09 Student Essay Contest winners:

First Place, $1,000 – Robert Crowe - Essay (Edited for publication)

The first place winner of the $1,000 prize was Robert Crowe. Robert, who plans to enter the Oakland University counseling program, has taken his prerequisite psychology, anthropology and sociology classes at OCC’s Auburn Hills campus. "I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being at OCC and there are many other classes I’d love to take, so I’m planning to stay for another year at least," he says. Robert has his sights set on eventually earning a Ph.D. An F1 student from Britain, Robert returns home regularly to visit his 11-year-old niece, 6-year-old nephews and other family members. During term time, he lives in Lake Orion with his partner, whom he met two years ago in New Zealand.

Robert entered the essay competition after hearing several professors mention the contest, noting that very few colleges offer such generous prizes. "I was thinking about entering, then my anthropology professor returned one of my papers with very favorable comments. That was the final encouragement I needed to have a go at it," he says.

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Second Place, $750 - Kyle McBee - Essay (Unedited)

Second place winner Kyle McBee takes liberal arts courses at both the Royal Oak and Orchard Ridge campuses and intends to transfer to a university. He has his sights set on earning a bachelor degree in social sciences – "mixing sociology, economics and anthropology." Kyle plans to continue on for master and doctoral degrees in a more specified area of research. Ultimately he would like to focus on working on the problems of poverty and economic stability in national and world markets.

Describing himself as "an activist candidate for public office, a rock musician, a scholar and a comic book reader," Kyle says he’s "probably the most idealistic cynic you're likely to run into. My concerns over the issues of poverty and wealth disparity inform both my artistic and academic careers."

Currently working in retail, as a promoter and performer of local music, and as a bartender, Kyle read about the essay contest in an OCC mailing. Since this year’s topic "was near and dear to his personal motivations," he figured entering the contest was certainly worth a try.

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Third Place, $500 – Tere’ Turner - Essay (Edited for publication)

Although marriage and raising three children slowed down her academic career, third place winner Tere’ Turner returned to OCC two years ago after a 20-year absence from academia. Her initial goal is to obtain an associate degree in Early Childhood Development at the Highland Lakes Campus. "After completing my OCC degree, I may pursue further education, or perhaps I’ll get right to work with at-risk children," Tere’ says. She currently volunteers at City Mission Academy, an inner-city Detroit private school that provides K-6 education for children in the Brightmoor area.

Tere’ has learned a great deal in her time at OCC and acknowledges the valuable contribution of her instructors: "With Gina Fournier as my Composition II teacher, I learned how to form a well written paper. Her encouragement throughout the semester made me believe in myself and in the idea that my thoughts were important."

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Honorable Mention - Amy Dunayevich - Essay (Unedited)

Orchard Ridge Campus student Amy Dunayevich is interested in economics and is planning to start law school in the fall. A former Peace Corps volunteer who served in the Republic of Moldova, the Farmington Hills resident enjoys fitness, reading, watching films, and spending free time exploring eBay.

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Honorable Mention - Joshua Eby - Essay (Edited for publication)

Joshua Eby, a home-schooled senior in high school, is currently finishing his second year as a part-time OCC student at the Orchard Ridge Campus. Joshua plans to complete his undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field, continue on to medical school, and then embark on an overseas medical mission career. When asked what motivated him to participate in the essay contest, Joshua explained that "the issue of overseas missions is very dear to my heart. I am sickened by the greed of American culture and long for a different vision for our future - one dominated by love and community rather than materialism and selfishness. I believe that change starts with me, and I wanted to write about it." Joshua is one of seven children - two boys and five girls. Four are biological siblings, and his parents adopted one brother from Korea and two sisters from Liberia. Currently, Joshua works as a clerk for Anderson Music and referees for the Farmington Soccer Club.

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Honorable Mention - Cindy Hampel-Litwinowicz - Essay (Edited for publication)

Royal Oak resident, Cindy Hampel-Litwinowicz, began taking classes at OCC in January 2007. The married mother of three, Cindy is pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate in the paralegal program at the Orchard Ridge Campus. Cindy is self-employed as a writing and editing consultant. She’s also served in corporate media relations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, and previously worked as a reporter for daily and weekly newspapers in Michigan and Ohio. "While an undergraduate at Wayne State, I traveled to Europe and took classes in world politics and anthropology," Cindy explains. "I enjoy exploring different cultures and what people in different countries can learn from each other," she says.

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Honorable Mention Amber Siri - Essay (Edited for publication)

Teaching English is in Amber Siri’s future. The Highland Lakes Campus student says: "I hope to one day earn a master degree and become a GREAT teacher." A transcendentalist who loves nature and plans on becoming the next Henry David Thoreau, Amber is a member of PTK and the OCC Cross Country Team. According to Amber, her "AWESOME Cross Country coach Tony Baracco" encouraged her to write and submit an essay for the contest.

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Honorable Mention Matthew Zuckero - Essay (Edited for publication)

Matthew Zuckero is enrolled in the paralegal program at the Orchard Ridge Campus and would ultimately like to attend law school. He participated in the essay contest because he found the topic itself interesting: "I’ve traveled abroad quite a bit and enjoy exploring the way different cultures view the American way of life." Matthew and his wife reside in Ferndale with their dog Rufus.

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