Junior Aras Scimemi won first place in the 2012 Junior Achievement Essay for Maryland, winning a $10,000 scholarship.
The prompt Scimemi responded to asked how the country can readily and realistically tackle growing income disparity. In his essay, Scimemi cited the importance of designing economic and educational opportunities to address current income disparity.
“It was an economic question, which interested me,” Scimemi said. “I just figured, what have I got to lose?”
Scimemi heard about the contest through English teacher Susan Buckingham in late September. His solution emphasizes that all people should have equal potential to succeed.
“All Americans will have the opportunity to strive to realize, to their own highest potential, the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.”
