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Youth Award Winners Announced
June 23, 2004

Honolulu - The ACLU of Hawai'i today announced that a Baldwin High School senior with a dramatic flair for the Bill of Rights, a Punahou High School senior who founded the first Gay Straight Alliance in a private school and a Kalani High School senior who fought against racial intolerance are winners of the second annual ACLU of Hawai'i Youth Award.

Winner Jana Pierce-van Loon from Maui, and Honolulu finalists Samantha O'Hanlon and Christen Brown will receive their awards in a ceremony on Saturday July 17 presented by Chief Justice Ronald T. Y. Moon at the State Supreme Court.

Pierce-van Loon will be recognized for her commitment to civil liberties issues which can be best described as a one-girl performing arts show. Her works have dramatized religious issues, gender discrimination and other violations of civil liberties. In response to the PATRIOT Act, Jana created and wore a t-shirt to school written with "I am a terrorist" to stimulate discussion regarding the Actıs assault on the personal freedoms of Americans.

O'Hanlon was instrumental in forming Punahou schoolıs Gay Straight Alliance. She also initiated several Chapel presentations at her school to highlight civil rights issues and the need for diversity awareness and tolerance.

Brown will be acknowledged for actions taken while attending New Trier High School in Illinois. To promote racial awareness and tolerance of minority students, she was instrumental in creating the schoolıs first Black History Month Club. This has led to plans to develop diversity training for faculty and students.

"These students raised awareness about personal freedoms or sought to correct an injustice in very different ways and should be commended for their persistence and bravery in the face of pressure to conform from some of the peers and adults in their lives," said executive director Vanessa Chong.

The ACLU' s Youth Award was created last year to recognize the efforts of young individuals, who are not older than a senior in high school, who have demonstrated a strong commitment to civil liberties. This is the second annual award which is made possible by a generous grant from Dr. Les Wilbur, professor emeritus from University of Southern California. The winner receives $1,000 and finalists receive $500 each. Candidates are nominated by teachers, counselors, or community groups.

"By publicizing the deeds of young activists, the Youth Award can also strike a spark in others to actively protect the Bill of Rights," said executive director Vanessa Y. Chong

The awards ceremony is open to the public but a RSVP is required due to limited seating. For more information, contact the ACLU at 522-5900.



Related Information:
Youth Award 2004 Honorees
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