SSHS students nominated for peace award

SEELEY LAKE - Three Seeley-Swan High School students were nominated for the 2019 Father Jim Hogan Search for Peace Award through the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center in Missoula due to their efforts in the classroom.

SSHS educator Crissina Quinn nominated juniors Emma Stevenson, Kara Good and Blake Lindemer for their work in her American Studies course, a hybrid between U.S. History and English. Quinn nominated the three students based on their assignments for journalistic writing as well as informational speeches.

"[The students] continually demonstrate their commitment to peace, social justice and sustainability through their leadership qualities and written words," wrote Quinn in her nomination letter. "Seeley Lake is a homogeneous community ... however, these three students consistently challenge the status quo."

Stevenson focused her efforts on raising awareness about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis and healthy relationships.

"You write stuff in school and it usually doesn't go anywhere ... It hits more people than just your teacher and your classmates," said Stevenson about having her work recognized by being nominated for the award.  

Good wrote about the issue of immigration and refugees, as well as how empowering women could solve climate change.

"I just felt like I chose those topics because it impacts all of us one way or another," said Good. "I felt like everyone in the community should be more informed."

Lindemer wrote about the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems for marine life and how single-use plastics are damaging to the environment.

"I wanted to bring awareness to how hurtful plastic is to the Earth ... and how it's affecting the animals," said Lindemer. Lindemer's passion about reducing plastic waste has translated to his family's business, which now uses paper straws.

According to the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center website, children between ages five and 18 that are making a difference in their "neighborhood, school or family" are eligible to be nominated. Youth groups that fit that description are also eligible for a nomination. The award is dedicated to Fr. Jim Hogan who "challenged the community to look to young people as we struggle to find peace in our world," according to the website.

The students were recognized with the other nominees for 2019 at a ceremony and received certificates for their efforts at Imagine Nation Brewing in Missoula last month.

Good added, "Doing something that you're really passionate about and then having it be recognized by other people is just really cool because you feel like you're not just saying your opinion but you are teaching people about the stuff that you care about."