What does a college education mean to you? Do you think everyone should go to college? Please explain.

Essay Question – Students Ages 13-18

What is an important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING ALL ESSAYS  - February 11th 2012 

Renowned artists and photographers Ruggero Vanni and Valentina Vanni (and proud parents of PWF fencer Filippo) spent several months capturing the essence of the PWF in thousands of photographs.

They have produced this magnificent work of art to commemorate our 20th year in operation.

The book is available in an 11 x 13 Format and in and 8 x 10 format, follow these links
Swordplay (Large Format 11 x 13)
Swordplay (Small Format 8 x 10)

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Essay Question for Students Ages 13 – 18

Does your family history, culture or environment influence who you are? Why or why not? Please provide at least two examples.

NOTE: All essays are due on Saturday December 3rd 2011.

Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why you think it has changed people’s lives.

• Automobiles
• Bicycles
• Airplanes

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Essay Question for Students Ages 13 – 18

If you were to describe yourself by creating or using a quote, what would the quote be? Explain your answer.

Fasting is difficult under the best of circumstances, but for an athlete training rigorously for the opportunity to represent the United States in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, it can present health risks as well.

“Ramadan and training is always a difficult act in that you have to really be conscious of your body and what your body is telling you,” said Muhammad, who is 25 years old and ranked 11th in the world in women’s saber.

To make sure Muhammad could keep up her training regimen, the United States Olympic Committee had her consult with a nutritionist in the weeks leading up to Ramadan.

She was put on a high-protein diet of peanut butter, bananas, yogurt and other nutritional food. And this was one instance in which it was OK to raid the refrigerator during the night.

“When you are an athlete, you have a huge appetite, and it’s not anything I can control,” Muhammad said. “After the sun goes down, I’m constantly eating and drinking.”

Muhammad, who is from Maplewood, N.J., woke up every 90 minutes during the night to eat and drink as much as possible. She needed to be well-fortified for her daily workout, which included a run at 7:30 a.m. and fencing practice in the afternoon. She and her coach, Akhnaten Spencer-El, also adjusted her schedule to include an evening session. “My coach has been very accommodating,” Muhammad said. “He and I have lessons after dinner, which is 9 to 10 p.m.”

She doesn’t ask for any sympathy during Ramadan. Practicing her religion and her fencing at the same time has become second nature to her, she said. Besides, every Olympic hopeful faces obstacles in a quest for gold.

“Fasting is not meant to be easy, but I don’t think my struggle is different from anyone else’s,” Muhammad said.

In fact, this has been a dress rehearsal for her. If she qualifies for the Olympics, Muhammad would have to compete during Ramadan, which begins July 20 next year. The London Olympics open July 27.

“If I were blessed and fortunate enough to qualify for the Games, there would be no reason not to fast,” she said. Olympic qualifying for fencing is next April.

Although Muhammad is not assured of an Olympic berth, she has made remarkable progress, given that she did not take up fencing until she was a high school freshman. She went on to become a three-time All American at Duke University from 2004-07. She won the U.S. national title in 2009 and the bronze medal at the 2010 Pan Am Games.

Also noteworthy is that Muhammad would be the first hijab-wearing, or headscarf-wearing, Muslim female athlete to represent the U.S. in the Olympic Games. She also holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to qualify for women’s saber at the world championships, as well as the first female Muslim member of the U.S. fencing team.

“It’s huge,” Muhammad said. “I hope I can inspire one Muslim girl to try fencing — not even all Muslim girls, but just one.

This article was featured on ESPN News. To view the article, please visit http://espn.go.com/espnw/features-profiles/6921679/fencer-ibtihaj-muhammad-routine-not-foiled-ramadan

During the annual three-day gathering of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family, the USOC will present four of its annual awards, including the Jack Kelly Fair Play Award, presented by BP; the Olympic Torch Award; and Rings of Gold awards for both an individual and program.

The 2011 award recipients:

Rings of Gold Award (program) - Peter Westbrook Foundation(New York, N.Y.) Rings of Gold Award (individual) - Wendy Hilliard (New York, N.Y.) Jack Kelly Fair Play Award, presented by BP - Jenna Huff (New London, N.C.) Olympic Torch Award -Christy Halbert (Nashville, Tenn.)

Both the Olympic Torch Award and Jack Kelly Fair Play Award will be presented during the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Assembly Awards Dinner on Friday while the Rings of Gold awards will be handed out at an awards lunch on Saturday.

RINGS OF GOLD AWARDS
The Rings of Gold awards – inaugurated in 1996 – annually recognize an individual and a program dedicated to helping children develop their Olympic or Paralympic dreams and reach their highest athletic and personal potential.

Peter Westbrook Foundation
The Peter Westbrook Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by six-time time U.S. Olympian Peter Westbrook. The mission of PWF is to enrich the lives of children through the Olympic sport of fencing.

Since the foundation’s inception in 1991, over 2,000 kids have partici pated in the program, most of whom are minorities who reside in low-income neighborhoods and are from single-parent households in the New York City metropolitan region.

In 1996, the foundation launched the Academic Enrichment Program in order to provide PWF students with academic support, mentoring and test preparation; and, in 2009, PWF opened its tutorial center, where students can meet with their tutors immediately after the program. Members of PWF’s Elite Fencing Squad have qualified for three Olym pic Teams, many senior and junior world teams, and have attended and graduated from some of the top universities in the U.S.

For more information please visit http://m.teamusa.org/i/ngb/usa-fencing/section/news/article/44681

September 15, 2011

SHENZHEN, China – Early August marked the start of the 2011 Universiade, better known as the World University Games. The World University Games are held every four years in the year preceding the Summer Olympic Games. Three Westbrook fencers represented the United States at the Games, as Faizah Muhammad competed in women’s sabre, and brothers Adrian and Dan Bak competed in men’s sabre. D’meca Homer competed for the Virgin Islands in the women’s foil event. Both Dan and Muhammad represented well in individual competition, each earning a top-32 finish.

For full results of the 2011 World University Games for Fencing visit fie.ch

Instructions for Students: To complete the survey, you will receive and use a unique identifier instead of your name (See table below). The unique identifier is to maintain confidentiality, which means your name will not be linked to your responses, so please answer the survey honestly.

Please keep in mind, your feedback, comments and suggestions will help us improve our programs which, in turn, will help us to better serve you. If we have your email on file, you will receive an email with a link to the survey. You may also email us and request your unique identifier.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

_______________________________________________________

To begin the survey, students must have their unique identifier with them. The unique IDs will be distributed on October 22, 2011. Next, click the link and follow the directions to complete the survey. The survey will start October 22, 2011 and must be completed by the November 12, 2011.

Please find your code in the table below and then follow this link to the survey.  If you are not in the list and you think you should be please contact send an email to herby@peterwestbrook.org

PWF Students: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PWFStudentSurvey

CODE TABLE

1) BELL LABS FELLOWSHIPS FOR UNDER REPRESENTED MINORITIES http://www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP/info.html
2) Student Inventors Scholarships  http://www.invent.org/collegiate/

3) Student Video Scholarships http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html

4) Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarships http://www.coca-colascholars.org/programs.html

5) Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships http://www.aynrand.org/contests/

6) Brand Essay Competition http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.htm
7) Gates Millennium Scholarships (major) http://www.gmsp.org/nominationmaterials/read.dbm?ID=12

Sports Scholarships and Internships http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html

9) National Assoc. Of Black Journalists Scholarships  http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html

10) Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr%20/jobs/stw.HTML

11) Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/sk_v6.cfm

12) FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid scholarships) http://www.finaid.org/

13) Presidential Freedom Scholarships http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships

14) Microsoft Scholarship Program http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp

15) Hope Scholarships &Lifetime Credits http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope

16) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm
17) Guaranteed Scholarships http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/

18) Maryland Artists Scholarships http://www.maef.org/

19) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida ) http://www.jackituckfield.org/

20) Historically Black College & University Scholarships http://www.iesabroad.org/info/hbcu.htm

21) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students http://www.beanactuary.org/minority/scholarships.htm

22) International Students Scholarships &Aid Help http://www.iefa.org/

23) Siemens Westinghouse Competition http://www.siemens-foundation.org/

24) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html

25) CollegeNets Scholarship Database http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index

26) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid http://www.aflcio.org/scholarships/scholar.htm

27) Federal Scholarships &Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm

28) Scholarship &Financial Aid Help http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm

29) FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

30) Aid &Resources For Re-Entry Students http://www.back2college.com/

31) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world) http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination.html

32) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html

33) INROADS internships http://www.inroads.org/

34) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships http://www.baeo.org/

35) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html