2009 High School Division
First Place
Rebeca Hulme
Rebeca Hulme is the 1st place winner of the High School Division of the GRHS Youth Essay Contest. She lives in La Crescent, Minnesota. In June 2009, she graduated from La Crescent High School. While attending high school, she participated in band, math team, women's studies, Green Up (an environmental group), and in creative writing club. During her free time, she enjoys dancing, drawing, reading & visiting with her family. In June 2009, Napoleon ND celebrated its 125th anniversary. Among those who returned to Napoleon for the festivities were Rebeca Hulme and her family. When she arrived in Napoleon, she had no idea that the GRHS Youth Committee had arranged a surprise presentation by John Gross, president of the South Central GRHS chapter. Her grandparents, Darlene and Marvin Wentz, and her mother helped organize the surprise. The Napoleon Homestead, the local newspaper, devoted a full page to Rebeca and her essay. In an email received after the event, Rebeca said, "The presentation was wonderful: a BIG surprise and honor! I loved meeting John Gross and talking to him." Rebeca says that she enjoyed this opportunity to research the Germans from Russia heritage and to listen to the stories of her grandparents and friends. A photo of Rebeca with John is in the September Heritage Review. Rebeca also wins the Gwen Pritzkau Scholarship as the highest scoring high school senior. This fall, she is attending Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
