Montage Hotels & Resorts, Laguna Beach, California, recently announced the winners of its second annual Montage Memory Makers contest, which rewards five young humanitarians — ages 13 to 17 — with US$10,000 college scholarships.
Finalists were announced on Montage Hotels’ website, and the public was invited to vote for the five winners:
- Kylie Kuhns, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, who founded Kelsey’s Dream, a foundation aimed at bringing comfort to young cancer patients in memory of Kylie’s sister, Kelsey, who passed away from leukemia
- Nick Wallace, La Jolla, California, who founded Nick’s Picks, a charity that provides backpacks filled with gifts for children facing long-term hospital stays
- Katie Stagliano, Summerville, South Carolina, who started Katie’s Krops, a collection of student-run gardens that feed the hungry
- Ethan Cruikshank, Mechanicsville, Virginia, who created Music to My Ears, a volunteer organization where middle- and high-school students teach free weekly musical instrument lessons to elementary-school children
- Morgan Davidson, Los Angeles, who established Ambassadors of Hope Club, a foundation that promotes fundraising events for the City of Hope Blood Donor Center
In addition to the US$10,000 scholarship, the winners will receive a trip for two to Montage Laguna Beach and will be highlighted on the contest website and in the spring issue of Montage Magazine.
Contestants composed a 300-word essay detailing their efforts to inspire and provide service to their communities, and they could also submit an optional video. Judging was based on community service, impact of achievement on the community and beyond, creativity of achievement, and inspirational value to others. Ten finalists were selected by a panel of judges including Premal Shah, president of Kiva.org; Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org; Darell Hammond, founder and CEO of KaBoom and Alan Fuerstman, founder and CEO of Montage Hotels & Resorts.