The Foreign Service Journal - December 2017

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2017 59 AFSA NEWS AFSA Essay Contest Highlights Importance of U.S. Global Leadership On Sept. 28, this year’s win- ner of the AFSA National High School Essay Contest, Nicholas DeParle, a senior at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., was hon- ored for his achievement with a day of exciting activities. The winning essay was chosen from among 1,000 entries from 46 states and 14 countries. With his parents, Nancy- Ann and Jason, and younger brother Zachary, DeParle attended a reception in his honor at the United States Institute of Peace. While presenting the $2,500 prize, AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Ste- phenson expressed her hope that the leaders of tomorrow think about what America’s diplomats do and under- stand why it matters. In addition to the mon- etary prize, DeParle will also receive a fully-funded educa- tional voyage from Semester at Sea on enrollment at an accredited university. The party then proceeded to the Department of State to meet with Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, who presented State Department challenge coins to DeParle and his brother. Congratulations are due also to the 2017 runner-up, Manuel E. Feigl of Simpson- ville, South Carolina, who received a $1,250 prize and a full scholarship to par- ticipate in the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference that is held annu- ally in Washington, D.C. n AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (far left), Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan (left) and USIP President Nancy Lindborg (far right), present 2017 AFSA essay contest winner Nicholas DeParle (second from right) with his certificate and prize in the Treaty Room at the Department of State. DEPARTMENTOFSTATE/MARKSTEWART