Full story at: http://www.times-standard.com/lifestyle/ci_19271611
Two Hoopa Valley High School 2011 graduates submitted essays that won first place in the Holland & Knight Young Native Writers Essay Contest‰ earlier this year. Both received a $2,500 scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Chance Carpenter IV is a member of the Hupa Tribe and Merk Robbins is a member of the Yurok Tribe. The Young Native Writers Essay Contest is sponsored by the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation. It is open to the entire U.S. population of Native American high school students and is designed to encourage them to think about the critical issues impacting their tribal communities and how they hope to be part of the solution. Holland & Knight is a law firm that values being a voice for the voiceless and has been recognized nationally for its „diversity in action.‰ One of its branches focuses on issues that affect Native Americans, and the winners of the essay contest get a chance to meet both Native American and non-Native American lawyers who work toward resolving issues that concern tribal entities. These men and women offer networking possibilities and internship partnerships with the young people.
