David Giffey, Veterans for Peace
Ten members of the River Valley High School Class of 2021 wrote essays competing for a cash scholarship awarded by Veterans For Peace Chapter 25. Winner of the essay contest was Anna Deibert.
Members of the senior class were asked to write an essay on the topic “Why I Believe War Is Not the Answer.” Deibert was filmed recently at River Valley High School. Her appearance was part of a YouTube video available beginning Monday, May 31, and co-sponsored by Veterans For Peace and The Progressive magazine. The video will be posted for streaming on the Veterans For Peace website (madisonvfp.org) and The Progressive’s YouTube channel.
Deibert’s essay said in part, “In an age where global unification is of the utmost importance, there could be no better time to declare that war is not the answer.” In addition to discussing the consequences of war, the essay decried hate crimes, prejudices and racism as “alienating other individuals based solely on their country of origin, race, or appearance.” The essay concluded: “The only thing war will do is divide us, cause us to see differences in each other as ways to bring us down rather than lift us up. We need unity and love, not war.”
Veterans For Peace began awarding essay scholarships at River Valley High School in 2008. Deibert’s winning essay was announced at Scholarship Awards Night May 21.
Other high schools where Veterans For Peace offers scholarships and conducts essay contests include Dodgeville, Baraboo, Wisconsin Heights, Richland Center, Muscoda, Boscobel and Madison.
Essays in the 2021 Veterans For Peace scholarship competition at River Valley High School, in addition to Deibert, were written by Emily Kane, Kylee Sebranek, Alex Harrah, Matthew Gostomski, Kelsey Olson, Starr Camacho, Alicyn Stephens, Isaac Prem and Sophia Haas.