After reading the premise of the Contest at the encouragement of a professor, Plaster says he “knew that it would require the kind of honest writing I wanted to practice.” Medill taught Plaster “that every word matters. Communication comes down to bare, essential words.” Through his writing, Plaster strove to emulate Elie Wiesel’s success at using his abilities to create a positive impact.

In his essay “Surprised by Suffering,” Plaster writes about reading Ava Schieber’s Holocaust survival account, Soundless Roar, and making eye-contact with the author at a university talk. Schieber’s intense passion taught Plaster to let the pain of others transform him in a personal and emotional way, rather than to seek comfortable, logical explanations of suffering.

Plaster’s essay was chosen as an Honorable Mention from hundreds of submissions by students at more than two hundred colleges and universities throughout the nation. As one of two Honorable Mention winners, Plaster received $500. Plaster’s essay submission was sponsored by Northwestern University Writing Professor Marcia B. Gealy.

Plaster acknowledges that his experience with the Contest greatly impacted the way he views the world: “It restored my faith in my own generation, that we will be able to come together, from different backgrounds, and find solutions to the most complex problems.”

Plaster is currently working as the Features Editor of the journal Emergency Physicians Monthly.

Additional Winners Include:

First Place, $5,000 prize: Sarah Stillman, Yale University “Made by Us” Second Place, $2,500 prize: Christine Henneberg, Pomona College “The God on my Grandfather’s Table” Third Place, $1,500 prize: Catherine Bosley, George Washington University “L’Oiseau du Paradis” Honorable Mention, $500 prize: Katharine Wilkinson, The University of the South, “The Last Will Become First: Liberations of Race, Gender and Sexuality in Renee Cox’s ‘Yo’ Mamma’s Last Supper’"

The five winners received an all-expense paid trips to New York City, where they met Elie Wiesel and received their awards.

Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion, established The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity soon after he was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace. The Foundation’s mission, rooted in the memory of the Holocaust, is to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogues and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality.

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, now entering its 17th year, is an annual competition designed to challenge college students to analyze the urgent ethical issues confronting them in today’s complex world. Full-time juniors and seniors at accredited four-year colleges and universities in the US are welcome to enter the Essay Contest and compete for $10,000 in prizes and the opportunity to meet Elie Wiesel in New York.

The annual Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest is made possible through the generosity of E. Billi Ivry and The Thaler Family Foundation.

The deadline for the 2006 Essay Contest is Friday, December 9, 2005.

For more information on the 2005 Winners, including access to the winning essays, or to enter the 2006 Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, visit www.eliewieselfoundation.org

Gwen holds a BS from Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, and an MS in Education, Leadership and Administration from Wilmington College. Gwen is committed to Christian education and well equipped to give our WCS Middle School its own identity and challenge students to embrace high school with confidence and academic strength. Gwen and her husband Adam are native Delawareans. They are members of Ogletown Baptist Church and together teach 6th grade Sunday School. The Campbells have 5 children: Crissie (20), Laura (18), Scott (13), Danny (9), and Luke (5). All three boys are enrolled at WCS. Welcome Gwen, Scott, Danny and Luke!

Forty-four state-championship teams will be in Charlotte on May 5-7 to compete for the
national title. This year – as in 4 or the last 6 years – Delaware will be represented by
Wilmington Christian School, winners of the state competition earlier this year.
The national competition, which is being hosted by the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, also will
draw hundreds of parents, volunteers and educators to Charlotte. All told, organizers expect
about 1,400 people to participate.

This year’s championship case involves a fictitious incident at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, one of
the nation’s premier NASCAR venues. All the social events associated with the championships —
including the welcoming party, the Friday night social and the awards banquet — will
incorporate a racing theme.

Organizers say the racing theme is a natural fit.

“Since we’re in Charlotte, we think the racing theme will be fun for the participants, but also
will provide us with a fascinating legal case,” said Dick Taylor, CEO of the N.C. Academy of Trial
Lawyers. “We want the students to enjoy themselves — but to be challenged as well. We’re
fortunate to have the Speedway nearby and involved. We’re very excited.”

More than 400 lawyers will lend their expertise to work with the competitors. Other participants
include more than 500 coaches, advisors and parents who will travel with the students to
support them. In addition, 150 volunteers from the education and legal communities will
provide logistical support.

In addition to the Academy of Trial Lawyers, the competition is being sponsored by the N.C. Bar
Association, the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys and Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Other
supporters include the dozens of individuals, law firms, bar groups and corporations who havepledged thousands of dollars to help fund this endeavor. More than 60 individuals have pledged
$1,000 each.

The National High School Mock Trial Board of Directors selected Charlotte because of its
courtroom space, accommodations near the courthouse and an exciting and vibrant cultural
scene.

The trials will be based upon a fictitious case developed by a team of writers that presents facts
equally weighted for both the plaintiff and the defense. Students will portray the roles of
attorneys and witnesses and will be bound by the simplified rules of evidence and procedure
specifically developed for high school mock trial competition.

Thousands of students have participated in the high school mock trial program since 1989 and
have gained valuable insight into the workings of the American justice system. The movement
has proven to be an effective way to engage students in an interactive program that
demonstrates and strengthens their civic values and knowledge and prepares them to be
responsible, informed and participatory citizens. The students have challenged themselves and
gained confidence in their listening, speaking, writing, reading, and presentation skills. Many
participants have made history of their own by becoming the first in their family to attend
college.

Some goals of the competition are:

• To promote greater understanding of and appreciation for the law, court procedures and the American judicial system.
• To improve basic life skills such as critical thinking, reading, speaking and advocacy.
• To improve communication and cooperation among key community members including schools, teachers, government leaders, law professionals and citizens.
• To heighten appreciation for the principle of equal justice for all.
• To promote an awareness of current legal issues.
• To promote the exchange of ideas among students from throughout the United States while providing a rewarding and memorable experience.
• To promote positive scholastic achievements.
• To offer a positive experience with the legal system.

The media are encouraged to attend and cover the competition. For more information, please
visit www.nationals.ncatl.org.

In the United States, trial by jury is not only a constitutional right guaranteed by the Sixth and
Seventh Amendments, it is also the method by which other fundamental rights of Americans
are protected. The Academy of Trial Lawyers believes the better students understand the
justice system, the more prepared they will be to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens and
future jurors.