Dear Mr. President: High school winners

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Augusta Chronicle invited pupils to write letters to President-elect Obama detailing what they would like him to do as president. The newspaper received more than 400 entries. Here are the high school winners. Winners among first- through fifth-graders were published Sunday, and fifth- through eighth-graders on Monday. After Mr. Obama's swearing in as the 44th president of the United States, all letters will be mailed to the White House.

EBONEI SIMPKINS FIRST PLACE

Dear President-elect Obama,

I would like to congratulate you on becoming the first African-American president. Your accomplishments have inspired people all over the world. During your presidency, there are two critical issues that I feel need to be addressed.

Public education needs your attention, especially in the area of early childhood education. Many children from low socioeconomic homes are caught in the revolving door of poverty. This situation is magnified by poor schools and a failed education system. By spending more money on early childhood education, ultimately, crime and the need for welfare programs may decrease. Instead of spending taxpayer dollars on prisons, transfer the money to educating America's children.

The second topic that I would like to bring to your attention is the war in Iraq and veteran affairs. Although I would like the war in Iraq to end, I understand that there are many issues surrounding a cessation to the war. I know from personal experience what it is like to have a father in Iraq and know how happy I was to see him when he came home for midtour. Although it would cost a great deal of money, I feel that the families of the troops deserve shorter rotations to lessen the strain on our military families. In addition, more attention needs to be devoted to the state of veteran's affairs. The troops returning home are struggling to continue life as it was before. However, it is not uncommon for troops to return with missing limbs and mental health disorders. When disabled troops finally do arrive home, they do not always have the help they need. Both physical and mental rehabilitation programs should be reformed to further assist them to ensure that all veterans are able to receive the highest quality of service.

The topics that I mentioned mean a great deal to me. I appreciate everything that you have done and everything that you will do. I thank you for taking time to read my letter, and I hope that you will consider some of these policies.

Sincerely,

Ebonei Simpkins, Sophomore, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Augusta

MICHAEL RIDLEHOOVER SECOND PLACE

Dear President Obama,

Congratulations on your election as president of the United States. In such times as these, America requires an honorable leader who possesses the ability to make sound decisions in the best interest of the nation as a whole. I am confident you have the capability and resources necessary to improve the United States and will promptly assist the citizens of this great country.

As an average and concerned citizen, I am writing to outline what issues, other than the obvious matter of the war, should be addressed initially to aid a nation in dire need of guidance. The economy, although not generally the primary concern of our country, is in great turmoil. At this point in time, a solution to the economic crisis would prove most valuable in terms of addressing the remaining problems faced by the country. As a student, I do not know every intricate detail of our financial predicament; however, the leaders of the United States have the ability to work together in a bipartisan effort to formulate a solution to this dilemma. Please propel the initiative of solidarity in Washington in order to enhance our fiscal condition and improve the financial position of the majority of this nation's citizens.

I am a very dedicated Christian, which directly spurs my next topic of discussion. I personally believe the only morally acceptable decision regarding abortion is to overturn the controversial Roe v. Wade verdict of 1973. In no way can abortion be justified, for it is simply murder and a holocaust directed at those without a voice. Both religiously and scientifically, life begins at the moment of conception; after that instant, intentionally ending a life should be legally prohibited. Although the current Democratic policy would most likely prevent an outright illegalization of abortion, an effort to increase restrictions and possibly even end the appalling practice should unquestionably be attempted. Your Democratic affiliation certainly affects that manner in which other party members vote, and your endorsement of such an issue could make the difference between the ethically proper vote or the villainous one.

May God bless you in your endeavor to lead our nation.

Sincerely,

Michael Ridlehoover, Senior, Evans High School, Evans

STEWART ZELLARS THIRD PLACE

Dear President-elect Obama,

First off, congratulations on your victory this past year. Your diligence and dedication inspires a bunch of people, including myself, to try and accomplish any of our aspirations, knowing that with determination, faith, and hard work we will be able to achieve anything we want to. But, because you are going to be inaugurated in January, I have only one suggestion for you as president.

I'm a senior at John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in Augusta, Ga., and we're the No. 1 public school in our state. We're also one of the top 100 schools in America. We have great teachers, faculty, and administration. Our technology is up-to-date and our academic atmosphere is challenging, and gets us prepared for college. Our percent of students passing the Georgia High School Graduation Test on the first attempt has been between 99 and 100 percent over the past decade. Unfortunately, Davidson Fine Arts isn't an accurate reflection of Georgia's overall educational system.

The state of Georgia is ranked 49th in the nation for public school education, and it's shameful that the students in this state have been put on the back burner by the local, state, and federal government. I understand that as president you will have an ample amount of responsibilities, given the situation in the global economy and the never-ending international disputes, but please do something to change the current stature of the educational system. Future United States and world leaders could be students in these failing schools. Although the current situations in the world are in the current elected officials' hands, the future of our economy, international affairs, and energy uses are in the hands of my generation. We have to begin preparing for the future by building a stable foundation today in the public school system. If we don't, the potential changes made by these potential leaders won't ever be enacted. They will only remain "potential."

Congratulations again on your victory. Stay positive, and do your very best as president.

Sincerely,

Stewart Zellars, Senior, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Augusta

MORE HIGH SCHOOL LETTERS

Dear President-elect Obama:

As a senior at Evans High School about to embark on college life and enter the real world, I have several concerns and a few requests for you as future President of the United States. My primary concerns are of the economy, the war in Iraq, and the environment.

The country is currently in a recession, and I have become increasingly more concerned about my financial situation and paying for my college education as I look at the stock market and the economy. In order to stimulate the economy, the future president needs to help the people by providing tax cuts, creating jobs, and preventing job losses. Circulating money to American families will increase spending and therefore help to stimulate the economy.

The war in Iraq has been a long and hard fight and has affected many Americans. As President of the United States, you will have the responsibility of ending this war. Your primary goal should be ending the war as smoothly, peacefully, and safely as possible. This will mean a slow, phased withdrawal. Also, in order to maintain the gains in Iraq, some American personnel should remain in Iraq. As you end the war in Iraq, the money and resources used for the war should be directed to helping with the current national problems in the United States.

The increase in the price of gas has affected almost every American this past year and has brought much attention to the oil and energy crisis. In order to draw America away from its dependence on oil, America needs to implement more of its own resources for oil and alternative energy and depend less on resources from the Middle East. Although the fight for alternative energy has already begun, the future President has the responsibility of providing the funds and encouragement to transform this country into an environmentally friendly nation.

I am looking forward to the policies you plan to adopt and the actions you plan to take for the United States. I am confident that you will make the right decisions for our country.

Yours sincerely, Elena Hubbard, senior, Evans High School

Dear President Obama,

First I would just like to congratulate you on your win for President of the United States. I myself am not yet old enough to vote, I missed it by one year. Since I couldn't vote I stressed it to everyone that I knew could vote, to get out and vote on November 4. I know you are a smart man and don't need to listen to what I think you should do but, I just want to try and help you out as much as I can because I know that so many peoople are just waiting for you to mess up.

I think you should study everything that George Bush did and make sure you don't make any of the mistakes that he did. I think the first thing you should try to do is make more job opportunities, because as you know we are in a recession and so many people have lost their jobs and can't support themselves or their families. Three of every one hundred homes with mortgages are in foreclosure. I think you should also try to help senior citizens that live by themselves and don't work by settingu up some kind of system to help them from getting their holmes taken because they don't recieve enough money to pay their house mortgages.

I am sorry to end on such short notices but I have to go but, you are a smart man and got where you are with out my input and I am sure you will do fine as our President and don't let any bad criticism get to you.

Edwin De Jesus, Senior, Hephzibah High School