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Protect American River Canyons Scholarship Essay Contest

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2023 PARC Scholarship Essay Contest
Sponsored by Protect American River Canyons (PARC)

Up to $2500 in Total Scholarship Awards
Entry Deadline is March 15, 2023
Download the Essay Contest Rules and Application Form here


2023 Essay Topic:

Students may enter the PARC 2023 Essay Scholarship Contest by submitting an original essay of 500 words or less describing their response to the following question about the North and Middle Fork American River canyons located upstream of Folsom Reservoir, in the Auburn State Recreation Area:

What is your personal connection to the American River and its canyons, and how has a current concern, such as the COVID pandemic, climate change, social media influence, racial inequality, or another concern you have, impacted the American River and its canyons?

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Please help ensure that PARC will be able to offer scholarships to more of our deserving local students next year by making a tax-deductible contribution to the PARC Scholarship Fund


Below: See the Winners of the 2022 PARC Scholarship Essay Contest.
The 2022 Essay Topic was:
What is your personal connection to the American River and its canyons, and how has a current concern, such as the COVID pandemic, climate change, social media influence, racial inequality, or another concern you have, impacted the American River and its canyons?
2022 PARC Scholarship Essay Contest Winners
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From left to right:  Emilie Brown, Placer HS;  Wyatt Hamilton, Placer HS; 
Austin Wanlass, Placer HS;  Kaela Peña, Placer HS, and Graham Neiman, Del Oro HS


Read these outstanding 2022 winning essays. Click on the links below to open the essays.


Emilie Brown, Placer High School

Wyatt Hamilton, Placer High School


Graham Neiman, Del Oro High School

Kaela Peña, Placer High School

Austin Wanlass, Placer High School



Below: See the Winners of the 2021 PARC Scholarship Essay Contest.
The 2021 Essay Topic was:
What is your personal connection to the American River and its canyons, and how has a current concern, such as the COVID pandemic, climate change, social media influence, racial inequality, or another concern you have, impacted the American River and its canyons?
2021 PARC Scholarship Winners

Read these outstanding 2021 winning essays. Click on the links below to open the essays.
Click the video links to hear the students read their wonderful essays. More will be added as they become available. You'll be heartened to hear these young voices!

Vance Byer
Vance Byer, Placer High School
Read Vance's essay
View Vance's video
Jordan Freer
Jordan Freer, El Dorado High School
Read Jordan's essay

Jack Galloway
Jack Galloway, Del Oro High School
Read Jack's essay

Marie Johnson
Marie Johnson, Placer High School
Read Marie's essay

View Marie's video
Alexandra Rae Taylor
Alexandra Rae Taylor, Woodcreek High School
Read Alexandra's essay



Below: See the Winners of the 2020 PARC Scholarship Essay Contest.
See videos of them reading their winning essays here.
The 2020 Essay Topic was:
How will your personal connection to the American River and its canyons lead to active environmental stewardship that will help reduce the impacts of climate change on the American River watershed?
2020 PARC Scholarship Winners
Read the outstanding 2020 winning essays, and watch them read their essays. You'll be heartened to hear these young voices! Click on the links below to open their essays.
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Madeline Cramer, Colfax High School
Read Madeline's essay.
View Madeline's video.
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Kate Haydon, Placer High School
Read Kate's essay.
View Kate's video.
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Taryn Ryan, Placer High School
Read Taryn's essay.
View Taryn's video.
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Mia Theodorou, Del Oro High School
Read Mia's essay
View Mia's video
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Maddie Washburn, Ponderosa High School
Read Maddie's essay
View Maddie's video


Below: 2019 Scholarship Essay Contest
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Winners of the 2019 PARC Essay Contest Scholarship Contest: From left to right: Sierra Hagen, Colfax HS; Marco Carniglia, Woodcreek HS; Hanna Yazdi, Placer HS; and Emily Youngblood, Placer HS. (Winner Connor Ryan of Placer HS not available for photo.)
See above for the 2020 Essay Topic
The 2019 Essay Topic was:

Why are the American River and its canyons important to me and my community, and what can my generation do to protect the canyons' natural habitat while improving recreational opportunities?

Pictured above are four of the five winners of the annual PARC 2019 Scholarship Essay Contest for local High School Seniors. All five winners received $500 scholarship awards.

Students entered the Essay Contest by submitting an original essay of 500 words or less describing their response to the question quoted above about the North and Middle Fork American River canyons located upstream of Folsom Reservoir, in the Auburn State Recreation Area.

Scroll down to read the winning essays.

Read the 2019 winning essays below! Click on the student's name to open their essay.
Marco Carniglia, Woodcreek High School
Sierra Hagen, Colfax High School
Connor Ryan, Placer High School
Hanna Yazdi, Placer High School
Emily Youngblood, Placer High School





Below: 2018 Scholarship Essay Contest
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2018 PARC Scholarship winners: From left to right, Eddy Polkenhorn, Lincoln HS; Layton Birchell, Placer HS; Brenn Haydon, Placer HS; Adrienne Russell, Granite Bay HS; (5th winner not in photo, Rachel Nicholson, Oak Ridge HS
See top of the page for the 2020 Essay Topic
The 2018 Essay Topic was:

What is my connection to the American River and Canyons, and what would I  change to create a better experience for visitors to the Auburn State Recreation Area?
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Please help ensure that PARC will be able to offer scholarships to more of our deserving local students next year by making a tax-deductible contribution to the PARC Scholarship Fund

Pictured above are four of the five winners of the annual PARC 2018 Scholarship Essay Contest for local High School Seniors. All five winners received $500 scholarship awards. The four pictured were able to attend a ceremony held at the Confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the American River in April, 2018.

Students entered the Essay Contest by submitting an original essay of 500 words or less describing their response to the question quoted above about the North and Middle Fork American River canyons located upstream of Folsom Reservoir, in the Auburn State Recreation Area.

Read the 2018 winning essays below! Click on the student's name to open their essay.
Brenn Haydon, Placer High School
Adrienne Russell, Granite Bay High School
Edward Polkenhorn, Lincoln High School
Layton Birchell, Placer High School
Rachel Nicholson, Oak Ridge High School



Below: 2017 Scholarship Essay Contest
Picture2017 PARC Scholarship winners, From left to right: Laura Riccardelli, Del Oro HS; Maggie Swett, Placer HS; Kristine Dunn, Granite Bay HS; Miranda Fedoronczuk, Placer HS; (not in photo: Marissa DeVille, Union Mine HS)
 

See top of the page for the 2020 Essay Topic
The 2017 Essay Topic was:

What is my connection to the American River and Canyons, and what is my vision for improving recreational opportunities in the Auburn State Recreation Area?

Read the 2017 winning essays below! Click on the student's name to open their essay.
Marissa DeVille, Union Mine High School
Kristine Dunn, Granite Bay High School
Miranda Fedoronczuk, Placer High School
Laura Riccardelli, Del Oro High School
Maggie Swett, Placer High School


2016 Scholarship Essay Contest
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From left to right: Anna Christeson, Charter University Prep; Lara Macon, Placer HS; Paige Roper, Placer HS; Josh Matthews, Placer HS; Kiana Kasravi, Del Oro HS
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Pictured above are the winners of the PARC 2016 Essay Contest Scholarship for local High School Seniors. All five received $500 scholarship awards at a ceremony held at the Confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the American River.

Essay Topic: Students entered the 2016 PARC Essay Scholarship Contest by submitting an original essay of 500 words or less describing their response to the following question about the North and Middle Fork American River canyons located upstream of Folsom Reservoir, in the Auburn State Recreation Area:

Why are the American River and its canyons important to me and what is my vision
for improving the Auburn State Recreation Area?
Read the 2016 winning essays below! Click on the student's name to open their essay.
Anna Christeson, Charter University Prep
Kiana Kasravi, Del Oro HS
Lara Macon, Placer HS
Josh Matthews, Placer HS
Paige Roper, Placer HS


Please help ensure that PARC will be able to offer scholarships to more of our deserving local students next year by making a
tax-deductible contribution to the PARC Scholarship Fund


2015 Scholarship Essay Contest Winners
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2015 PARC Scholarship winners, from left to right: Moses Wolf-Polgar, Del Oro HS; Kiera Jordan, Placer HS; Allie Clark, Colfax HS; Elisabeth Russell, Granite Bay HS; Kaitlyn Clark, Rocklin HS
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May 2015: PARC awards $2500 to Essay Contest Scholarship Winners
The winners of the PARC 2015 Essay Contest Scholarship for local High School Seniors have been selected. All five received $500 scholarship awards at a ceremony held at the Confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the American River.

Last year's topic question was:


Why do I care about the American River, and what is my vision for the protection of the river and its canyons for future generations?

In their essays, the students described the natural beauty, and shared their personal connection to the American River Canyons. They explained the importance of the Canyons to them and to our local community, and offered their ideas on how to protect the canyons for future generations to enjoy.

Read the 2015 winning essays by clicking the links below.



Click the names below to read the 2015 winning essays.


Kiera Jordan from Auburn and Placer High School

Moses Wolfe-Polgar from Auburn and Del Oro High School 

Allie Clark from Meadow Vista and Colfax High School 

Elisabeth Russell from Granite Bay and Granite Bay High School


Kaitlyn Clark from Rocklin and Rocklin High School 

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Email address: info@PARC-Auburn.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 9312, Auburn, CA 95604
Office location: 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603
Office phone: 530-537-2241


 Protect American River Canyons (PARC) protects the natural, recreational and cultural resources of  the North and Middle Forks of the American River through leadership and collaboration.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
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