Young Columbus Finalists

Here are four other finalists from among 60 entries in the Young Columbus program sponsored by The Spokesman-Review’s Newspaper in Education department and react magazine.

Jayme Lynn Stinehart

Finalist: Jayme Lynn Stinehart, a 16-year-old from Mullan, Idaho.

Summary: Whether or not Santa Claus is real, makes no difference. But what does make a difference is how much of an inspiration he is to all of us. By inspiration I mean how he brought out the child in all of us.

Dear Santa Claus,

You must think me a fool to be writing on such a subject, but I have a feeling that your mind will change as this letter progresses.

The following is known around the world, but for obvious reasons I feel I must clarify. So here goes.

Every year, on one particular night, (Christmas Eve to be exact) you deliver gifts to children everywhere. You’re not some sales clerk who works on commission, neither do you get compensated for your acts. So why would you do such a thing? I’ll tell you why: You aim to please and I admire that of you.

Your deeds have led me to believe that we citizens must look beyond our own selfish interests. With this in mind, I have been encouraged to join The Tree of Sharing, a nonprofit organization. This club does as you would do. Every Christmas Eve, we gather gifts to deliver to those who are less fortunate than others. You do not know the feeling of seeing a child’s eyes light up when they see these gifts.

You, Santa, preserve this sacred joy of happiness. You’re an inspiration to me, and hopefully to others as well. Thank you for helping us keep that happiness, and I only pray that it may last forever in our minds as well as our hearts.

Ashley Roberts

Finalist: Ashley Roberts, a 16-year-old from Ferris High School.

Summary: For nearly 30 years, May Arkwright Hutton shaped and changed the Northwest to make it what it is today. She single-handedly lobbied for the rights of women and the protection of orphaned children, as well as promoting the mining community, which earned her and her husband both fortune and fame. However, even with her sustained wealth, she stood by her convictions and continued to fight for her causes.

Dearest Mrs. Hutton:

My name is Ashley Roberts, a 16-year-old orphan living at the Spokane Children’s Home. It has been nearly a year since the death of my parents. Devastated, I did not believe there was any reason for me to live without them. However, you have changed that. Your involvement with the home and its residents, has shed new light on my life.

Before your visit, I was unaware that a prominent and well-known lady, such as yourself, was once an orphan too. As I am sure you have experienced, children like myself are shunned from modern society. However, you, single-handedly made our lives joyous once again. It is because of your devotion to us that I have become a new person, devoted to inspiring abandoned children as you have inspired me. If in my question I have touched at least one person, then know it is because of you. I can only hope that you will continue your astonishing work and know that you are making a difference in the young lives society has forgotten. If feel honored to have met you and again I thank you, as I am forever in your debt.

* Editors note: Roberts, who is not an orphan, explained in her interview that her father was an orphan and his story inspired her to assume the character for her letter since the contest application called for a fictitious letter.

Ian Turner

Finalist: Ian Turner, a 15-year-old from Columbia High School in Hunters, Wash.

Summary: Ed Schweitzer, the 51-year-old owner and president of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, has done numerous things in his life that have positively affected people in many countries. Ed decided to become an inventor and his first invention was a device that would tell power companies if there was a fault or break in their power lines, and where the problem was.

Dear Mr. Schweitzer:

So I hear you can’t make gravy? That’s all right because the reason I’m writing this letter is not to talk about your cooking but to tell you that I recently read an article in The Spokesman-Review newspaper about you. The article has greatly inspired me.

The fault detector in power lines that you have invented is a pretty amazing thing. It’s good to know that someone in the Inland Northwest has made such an impact on utility companies all over the world.

One thing I really admire is how you found a way to build your own company from the ground up. Your story is proof that a person’s dreams can come true if they just set their minds on what they want.

I’m sure you probably have a busy schedule, so how do you find time to be so involved in your community? I think the things you have done for the city of Pullman are phenomenal. The scholarships your company funds, and the donation of the aquatic center to Pullman High School, are examples of how honorable a citizen you are.

In addition to being a great citizen, I have learned that you are also a good person to work for. The article I read talked about how you treat your employees well. I think you would be a great person to be employed by because of the fact that you are an honest employer and want to keep your workers happy.

Thank you, Ed, for all your hard work in the business you have developed in Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Your story will be a great reminder, to many people, to follow their dreams.

Erin Boyington

Finalist: Erin Boyington, 14-year-old homeschool student from Spokane.

Summary: Sue Gloier and Michael Alesko have been waiting five years to adopt a second child. They have been trying to adopt a little Guatemalan girl named Angelina. But before they could, the child, along with thousands of others, disappeared when Hurricane Mitch struck Angelina’s homeland.

Dear Ms. Gloier:

When I read your story, I could only imagine the pain and frustration you felt when you heard that Angelina was gone. Five years you had wanted this baby … five years you had prayed for her. And then a cursed storm comes up and rips her from your grasp. You are not alone in your pain. Many women lost their entire families. One woman floated in the ocean for days. She said that the worst part about being at sea was being so alone after having her family. But you are not alone. You have your family around you, and best of all you can turn to God, casting your burdens of sadness and your frustration at His feet. He will take all of your pain and turn it to good. You gave more freely because of your loss, and you helped people like the woman who was all alone.

It takes courage to help others in the midst of your own suffering. You didn’t dwell on yourself when you gave, but rather thought of others. And God says in Isaiah 59:16 that He has seen your ways and He will heal you. He also says that He will comfort your mourners. Your mourners are your family, your small son who is walking in your footsteps. Just remember when you are tempted to give up that you don’t live your life for yourself, but for your son. Show him what to do - “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Your loss became someone else’s gain. You saved lives by moving people to give. You shamed me and inspired me. I won’t take tragedies like Hurricane Mitch lightly anymore, with apathy and detachment.

Here in the United States we have so much given to us, but we have been selfish. We seem to believe that we are put here just to earn money. That isn’t true. I am reminded of a commercial I once saw. It showed people grabbing for money, people falling and shattering and people climbing buildings made of money. It reminded me how shallow we all can be.

You are teaching all of us by example that there is more to this life than serving ourselves. You are showing us how to get up on our feet after a blow and keep walking. Thank you.