Trip to DC for student essayists

Wartime relationship: Churchill and Roosevelt

Three English secondary school students have won a trip to Washington DC, with a private tour of the White House, in an essay-writing competition.

The theme of the competition was to celebrate the special relationship between the UK and the United States during the World War II.

It was aimed at boosting historical knowledge and writing ability among 14 to 16 year olds.

The winners are Jenny Steer, 16, of Stroud High School, Gloucestershire, Jordan Skitrall, 15, of St Edmund's College, Hertfordshire and Christopher Hassan-Houghton, 14, from Kelvin Hall School in Hull.

Judges of the Millennium Essay Competition Awards included actors Tom Hanks and Ralph Fiennes, movie producer Steven Spielberg, and US senator Bob Dole.

Tom Hanks, who starred in the war movie Saving Private Ryan, said their work was a "fine examination of the cause and effect of post-Second World War relations.

"I appreciated the lack of patriotic fervour and ballyhoo.

Curiosity

"The collected essays were much more varied and thought provoking than I would have imagined."

At the presentation of the prize the winners met US Ambassador to Britain, Philip Lader, broadcaster Sir David Frost, author Ken Follett and the Education Secretary, David Blunkett.

Mr Blunkett said: "History excites interest and curiosity and schools have ensured students are taught about the Second World War as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.

"This is also a further contribution to the encouragement of young people to learn about, excel in and take pleasure from writing skills.

"They should be congratulated for the hard work that went into their essays."

Ken Follett said: "I've been writing about the Second World War for many years and I'm now on my fourth novel set during that period.

"It continues to be an inspiration for me and it is wonderful to see the inspiration it has been for these young people today."

Last-minute effort

Sir David added: "Dealing with things Anglo-American is something natural to me. I have had a wonderful time reading these essays and the standard was so good that we could have picked the winner's name from a hat.

"Each of the 15 finalists' essays were marvellous to read."

Winner Jordan Skitrall said: "I spent two or three weeks researching the project and the same writing.

"It is not an everyday experience to visit the White House. It means a lot to me."

Jenny Steer said: "My teacher told me about the competition because I'm so interested in history but if I'm honest I only decided to write the thing a couple of days before the deadline, and now I'm off to the White House.

"It has proved a fantastic opportunity and it is now a little daunting I suppose."

'Darkest hour'

Senator Bob Dole said: "What the students have learned from writing their essays will stay with them long after this competition ends.

"We must take every opportunity to teach and educate future generations on the importance of how America and the UK worked together during World War II to save the world during one its darkest hours."

There were 15 finalists selected from hundreds of entries:

David Bennett from Royal Latin School, Buckinghamshire, Marie Durcan from South Luton High School, Bedfordshire, James Etherington from Oaklands School, York, Edward Fowler from Ipswich School, Ipswich.

Cate Franklin from All Saints Church of England School, Weymouth, Dorset, Christopher Hassan-Houghton from Kelvin Hall School in Hull, East Yorkshire, Alexandra Hill from St Martin's School, Shenfield, Essex, Abigail Hiscock from Campion School, Bugbrooke, Northants.

Magnus Mackay from Fortrose Academy, Ross-shire, Scotland, Alexander Mills from Newport Free Grammar in Newport, Essex, Jenny Norris, Little Heath School, Reading, Berkshire, Jonathan Perrin, Southlands School, Lymington, Hants.

Christopher Russell-Smith, Queen Elizabeth's School, Faversham, Kent, Jordan Skittrall from St Edmunds College, Hertfordshire, Jenny Steer, Stroud High, Gloucestershire, Stephen Turgoose, Winterton Comprehensive, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.