DREAMERS CHALLENGE 2011 WINNERS

2011 Winning Entries

The California Museum, home of the California Hall of Fame, partnered with Comcast to challenge California high school seniors to tell us how their dream would leave a lasting mark on the state, the nation and the world at large.

Seeking out California’s next generation of trailblazers, the Dreamers Challenge Scholarship asked students to think creatively by submitting paintings, poems, video productions, music, essays or whatever format that allowed them to best answer the challenge in their own distinct voice.

In response, The California Museum received 156 thought-provoking, imaginative entries from all over the state and a diverse group of students. Announced on December 1, the 2011 winners are Tom Rydquist of Modesto, a senior at Fred C. Beyer High School, and Catherine Mitchell of Oceanside, a senior at Guajome Park Academy.

Both Tom and Catherine (along with a parental guardian each) will receive airfare and accommodations to accept their awards from First Lady Anne Brown during the sixth annual California Hall of Fame on December 8th at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento. Preceding the ceremony, Tom and Catherine will walk the red carpet and stopp to be interviewed in the Comcast live broadcast from 6:00-7:00pm. As Dreamers Challenge VIPs, Tom and Catherine will also attend the 2011 California Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Northern California Winner Tom Rydquist of Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto, CA:

"Funding the Dream: Helping California Lead the Way in Water Reclamation "

Southern California Winner Catherine Mitchell of Guajome Park Academy in Oceanside, CA:

"Beauty 4 Life"

Northern California Honorable Mention Entries:

Duncan Brown – "Micro-Entrepreneurial Support for Africans"

Sara Collins – "Foster Care: The Federal Government’s Broken Promise"

Leanna Jasek-Rysdahl – "California Child Development Education Act"

Jordan Ligons – "A Journalist and a Dream"

Brennan Peterson-Wood – "Earth Stewardship"

Sruthi Ramaswami – "Youth in Politics: Advocating for the Common Good"

Marcos Salmeron – "Brick by Brick"

Briana Sanchez – "An Anthem for Peace"

Jessey Warren -  "Merely Surviving Isn’t Enough"

Zeenat Yahya – "The 'Little Girl, Big Dreams' Project"

Southern California Honorable Mention Entries:

Justin Chen – "One Does Not Speak For All"

Michael Cheung – "Leveling the Educational Playing Field"

Brian Guthrie – "Can You Hear the Music?"

Karina Jougla – "Speaking for the Assembly"

Michael Kabzenell - "How Precious Life Truly Is"

Dylan Kirchhofer – "Corn Purse"

Nicole Ramos – "You Are Not Alone"

Heather Sizelove – "A Letter of Hope"

Shawnee Stump – "The Promising Handshake"

Candace Wu - "Roots"

*Entries are downloadable as Acrobat PDF files.

Read the Dreamers Challenge 2011 Announcement.

Visit Dreamers Challenge Official Rules for details on the $5,000 scholarship including official rules, entry form and judging criteria.