 The Montana Petroleum Report provides information of interest to Montanans. We encourage you to forward this e-letter to your friends.
— Dave Galt, Executive Director www.montanapetroleum.org
MT HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WIN WITH SOLID WRITING, THINKING
 Do kids living in the digital age, where news is served up in “bites,” have the patience to wade through complex issues like global warming? In a world of political polarization, can kids (or anyone) look at all sides of a debate objectively, then draw their own fact-based conclusions? At Red Lodge High School they can!
This year three out of eight Montana Petroleum Association/Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation scholarship awards for the best writing and thinking in an essay went to seniors at Red Lodge High. Coincidence?
Since the MPA’s statewide annual essay is judged anonymously and objectively, Red Lodge’s claim to 38 percent of the prizes could be random. Or it could be the mark of great teachers like Jennifer Collins, who has taught Red Lodge juniors and seniors for 13 years.
Two interesting facts: all three Red Lodge winners grew up in Red Lodge K-12 schools and all are children of teachers.
The 2010 hit parade of winners is representative of the rest of the state:
First place ($2,000) - Garrett Lay, Red Lodge High School
Second place ($1,000) – Nathan Robertus, Heritage Christian School
Runners up ($500) – - Keeley Bremer, Red Lodge High School
- Sally Gildehaus, Red Lodge High School
- Shelby Kramer, Laurel High School
- Rachel McMurray, Nashua High School
- Justin Robbe, Butte High School
- Hallie Westgard, Westby School
MPA board member Jack King presented the first place award to Garrett Lay at the high school. Garrett, who wants to be a mining engineer, will attend Montana Tech University this fall.
“I learned it’s important to think for yourself and not just follow the crowd,” Garrett explained his take away from the essay contest. “I have always been analytical, but this reinforces that you should look at the facts before developing your opinion.”
Winners were selected from among 65 entries. This year, they were asked to examine both sides of a statement, “Anthropogenic (human caused) CO2 is a major contributor to the total amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.”
Thank you to all students and teachers who participated in this year’s essay contest. Visit montanapetroleum.org to read the winning essays.
The Montana Petroleum Association, Inc. is a voluntary, non-profit trade association, serving a membership of oil and natural gas producers, gathering and pipeline companies, petroleum refiners, service providers and consultants.
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