The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2016

AFSA NEWS Meet the 2016 AFSA Merit Award Winners 1. Adele Birkenes – daughter of Robert Birkenes (USAID – FS) and Suzanne Polak, is graduat- ing from the NIST International School in Bangkok, Thailand. She plans to attend Vassar College majoring in biology. Rec- ognized as the Louis and Valeria Hebert Memorial Scholar. Adele also received the AFSAMerit “Best Essay Award.” 2. Isabella Blackman – daugh- ter of Kirninder P. Braich (Stat- daughter of Brian Blackman (State – FS) and Allison Black- man (State – CS), is graduat- ing from James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia. She plans to attend the University of Virginia majoring in biology. Rec- ognized as the Donald S. Spigler Memorial and Maria Giuseppa Spigler Scholar. 3. George Christensen – son of Darin Christensen (State – FS) and Elizabeth Christensen, is graduating from the Radford School in El Paso, Texas. He plans to attend BrighamYoung University majoring in physics. Recognized as the Turner C. Cameron Jr. Memorial Scholar. 4. Kyle Dominguez – son of Stacy Pearce (State – FS) and Daniel Dominguez, is graduat- ing from the American School in London in London, United Kingdom. He plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology majoring in engineering and computer science. 5. Agnes Ezekwesili – daughter of Nestor Ezekwesili (State – FS) and Ogugua Ezekwesili (State – CS), is graduating fromThe Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. She plans to attend the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 6. Samir Fierro – son of Jose Fierro (State – FS) and Sha- ron Fierro, is graduating from Millennium High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He plans to attend Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College major- ing in physics. Recognized as the Joanna and Robert Martin Scholar. 7. Helen Froats – daughter of Daniel Froats (State – FS) and Silvia Froats (State – CS), is graduating fromMcLean High School in McLean, Virginia. She plans to attend the University of Washington (Seattle) majoring in biology. Recognized as the Priscilla and John Becker Family Scholar. 8. Dylan Galt – son of Ambas- sador Jennifer Galt (State – FS) and Frederic Galt, is graduating from the International School of Ulaanbaatar in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He plans to attend Brown or Princeton Univer- sity majoring in mathematics. Recognized as the Joanna and Robert Martin Scholar. 9. Riena Harker – daughter of Bradley Harker (FCS – FS) and Megumi Harker, is graduating from the International School of Beijing in Beijing, China. She plans to attend Middlebury Col- lege majoring in geology or earth science. 10. Peter Huson – son of Tim Huson (State – FS) and Anne Braghetta (State – FS), is graduating from the Country Day School in San Jose, Costa Rica. He will attend Brown Uni- versity majoring in engineering. Recognized as the BlueCross BlueShield Federal Employee Health Benefit Program Scholar. 1 2 3 5 6 7 4 8 82 JULY-AUGUST 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL