“Chicago is a bustling city, recognized for its diversity, population, and metropolitan environment. President Obama, Chicago is in great need of preservation and development. Federal money should be invested to terminate poverty and to help individuals succeed. As a result of these fundamental improvements concerning education, housing, and planning, Chicago will regain the splendor it has been known for since the 1800s.”

The above is an excerpt from the winning essay written by Fariha Wajid, a CTE junior enrolled in Architectural Drafting at Lane Tech High School, from the 2009 Newhouse Program and Architecture Competition.

The annual competition is open to all CPS high school students allowing them to flaunt their skills in architecture, engineering and building trades. Students can choose to participate in many divisions requiring different types of skills such as photography, technical drawing, and design. All students are required to submit an essay as a part of the registration for the competition. It is the most difficult aspect of the competition to win and is very prestigious.

This year’s essay topic was “Dear Mr. President”. Students were charged with writing a memo to President Obama detailing how they felt federal stimulus money would be best spent in Chicago. Many essays are submitted from across the city to be critiqued and scored by a panel of professional architects and educators. Fariha’s essay took top prize, beating out many other excellent essays earning her a paid summer internship.

Congratulations Fariha on your outstanding achievement and good luck in your internship!!

To read Fariha’s complete essay to President Obama, please click here.