Punarvash Mitta

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Punarvash Mitta is a current high-school senior in Phoenix, Arizona and attends BASIS Scottsdale. Punarvash is a Certified Nursing Assistant and conducts research at Arizona State University while interning and shadowing with multiple physicians. Aside from his medical interests, he is a National Taekwondo Champion and has his own non-profit organization known as KidsTae. He enjoys playing basketball for his school’s Varsity team and loves thrifting. He plans on pursuing the pre-med track as he hopes to help children with uncommon genetic conditions through clinical treatment and research.

Watch Punarvash’s Winning Social Media Video Below

Our Interview With Punarvash

Was this the first time you entered the contest
This was my first time.

How did you hear about the contest?
I found the contest on the online website and I thought it was a super fun idea!

What inspired your work?
Watching captivating social media posts inspired me to do the same for this social media post as well. My past experiences as a social media manager also seemed to help a little.

What did you learn while creating your entry?
I learned how easy it is to be persuasive and how easy it is to make a change in one’s community. I was able to do so with the short amount of time I had.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
I plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution through discourse. I think the best way for people to learn about the Constitution is by discussing some of its core values, principles, and beliefs, and I plan to do just that.

How do your friends respond to history or talking about the Constitution?
My friends love talking about the Constitution! I believe the biggest thing we talk about is how effective it really is at securing our freedoms, and how these freedoms can contribute to our individual opinions flourishing.

What do you love about U.S History and the forming of our government?
I love how overlapped our U.S. History really is. Every decision impacts the beliefs of a specific group, that specific group calls for action, and these lead to new decisions. Everything is cyclical!

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
The historical site I would love to visit would be Jamestown, a living historical museum of one of the first settlements in the United States.

Which American historical figure is most influential/inspirational to you?
The American historical figure who is most influential/inspirational to you would be Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln wasn’t the most fortunate as a child, however, he managed to change the tide of American history through sheer will and determination.

Who is your greatest role model?
My greatest role model would be my martial arts instructor, John D. Nottingham. He taught me many values I pride myself with.

What in your life are you most passionate about?
I am extremely passionate about the proper medical treatment of underserved populations in the medical field.

How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time playing basketball, practicing Taekwondo, and thrifting!

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to become a pediatric sports medicine physician in the future.

If you could do one super impactful thing to help people, what would it be?
I hope to create large mental health initiatives that incorporate physical activity to ultimately be able to serve those in need.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution guides our everyday actions. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the vast freedom I have gone to love and respect.

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Maze Gusa

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Maze Gusa, 19, is currently a freshman at Northwood University pursuing her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. While she has been at Northwood University for less than a year, it is due to the amazing opportunities that have come forth from the university that even made her aware of Constituting America and the mission that they hope to accomplish. Maze would not consider herself a social media expert, but she has always loved putting together messages and finding herself in front of an audience or camera.

Outside of her studies, Maze also serves as the Michigan FFA Association’s State Vice President. In this role, she has had the chance to travel throughout Michigan and even to Indiana and Washington D.C. The whole time she has expanded the impact that agricultural education can have on an individual and shared the FFA’s Mission of “premier leadership, personal growth and career success.”

When she is not busy with school or FFA, Maze loves to grab a good book, go for a walk, or bake up delicious treats like French macarons and cake pops. One day, Maze hopes to become an event planner or an inspirational speaker. It is by the grace of God that Maze has had so many wonderful experiences in her life, and she hopes to continue leaning on her Lord and Savior in everything that she does.

Watch Maze’s Winning Social Media Video Below:

Our Interview With Maze

Was this the first time you entered the contest
Yes, it was.

How did you hear about the contest?
My professor assigned it as part of our coursework at Northwood University.

What inspired your work?
My work was inspired by the power of conversation and the ability to advance society when we work toward a common goal.

What did you learn while creating your entry?
When fully embraced, the First Amendment can lead to some hurt feelings, but these feelings cannot lead to a negation of rights.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
Just like in any area of life, talking about topics helps to bring awareness and importance to them. Winning this contest has helped prompt more of these conversations.

How do your friends respond to history or talking about the Constitution?
These are not often our topics of conversation, but when they are, some of my friends will tune out while others provide valuable insight. Quite often, they share information with me that I was not aware of.

What do you love about U.S History and the forming of our government?
I love that every person is entitled to share their opinions through voting.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
I have been blessed enough to visit several U.S. historical sites, but I have yet to see the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Oahu, Hawaii.

Which American historical figure is most influential/inspirational to you?
Mamie Till (Emmett Till’s mother) because she was brave enough to have an open casket funeral for her son after he was beaten. She was able to demonstrate the importance of victim recognition, something that other movements, such as the pro-life movement, have embraced.

Who is your greatest role model?
I have had so many people pour into my life, but two of the greatest mentors that I have had were my public speaking coach and family friend, Ryan Kramer as well as my cross-country coach, Garrett Jurges.

What in your life are you most passionate about?
Sharing the joy I have been rooted in because of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

How do you spend your free time?
Reading nonfiction, baking macarons and cake pops, walking with my friends or my dog, and living each moment to the fullest.

What are your plans for the future?
My current trajectory will lead me to be an event planner, but I would also love to travel the world as a public speaker.

If you could do one super impactful thing to help people, what would it be?
Impact everyone I meet with the joy of the gospel through my words and actions.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
It continues to protect our life, liberty, and property from an ever-encroaching political system.

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Aurora Staats

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Hi, my name is Aurora! I grew up in the beautiful state of Washington, where I love to spend time with family, do anything outdoors, do anything crafty/hands-on, learn new things, read, and do things that help me grow my testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am in my first year of college at Brigham Young University-Idaho, and it has been quite the adventure so far!

I came across the Constituting America scholarship competition as I was looking up different scholarships to apply for. Learning about the constitution has always been fascinating to me, and I enjoy stop-motion as a hobby, so when I saw the requirements for the social media vide category I thought, “This is perfect!” While I’m not sure if I will do anything career-wise with social media or stop-motion in the future, I definitely enjoyed making this video!

While I’m still figuring out what to do for my future, I’m so grateful to Constituting America and Heavenly Father for this opportunity so I can continue to learn and grow.

Watch Aurora’s Winning Social Media Video Below:

Our Interview With Aurora

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
This is indeed my first time entering the contest!

How did you hear about the contest?
I discovered the contest when I was trying to find different scholarships to help pay for my education.

What inspired your work?
I always enjoyed doing stop motion animation, and I thought it would be fun to try making one for this prompt!

What did you learn about the U.S. Constitution while creating your entry?
I think I learned how important it is to protect the basic freedoms we have while still being peacemakers. While we have the right to express our opinions, thoughts, and beliefs, as promised in the Constitution, we can’t protect that right if we are trampling all over other people’s thoughts, beliefs, and opinions in order to express our own. That’s what the Constitution is about: protecting not only our own rights, but all of our rights.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
I plan to spread the word about the importance of the U.S. Constitution in small ways… like sharing my video!

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
Oooooh, good question! There are too many good ones! I think I would just like to visit them all!

What are your career plans?
Currently, to obtain an education! I’m still trying to navigate which path I would like to take as my official career, but I’m learning as I’m going!

How do you spend your free time?
I love to spend time outdoors, camping, hiking, walking, reading, crocheting, sewing, crafting, sketching, spending time with family and friends, cooking, serving others, etc.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
I believe the Constitution is relevant today because of how it still protects the basic rights we need. While there are amendments that we added and slight things that we have adjusted overtime, the Constitution is still upholding the basic human rights that every human deserves.

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Evie Karren

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I’m Evie Karren. I’m currently enrolled as a junior in Fairview High School. I’ve lived in the small town of Sidney, Montana for most of my life, and I have strong ties to this area. I enjoy connecting with my community through my church and volunteering at local organizations, including the food bank and women’s clinic. I work at our local Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, and I’m a part of our high school’s honor society, science club, math club, yearbook, Hope Squad, and speech team. I’ve always had a passion for history and art, and I love to mix the two whenever possible. Past academic and community settings, I enjoy doing anything creative, including animation, playing the piano, hand-sewing, graphic design, drawing, acting, and creative writing. I love spending time with my immediate and extended family and friends, as well as my beautiful betta fish, Picasso. In my freetime, I also tutor children who recently moved to our community from Mexico, and it’s been a great opportunity to further my spanish-speaking skills and grow in my teaching abilities. In the future, I plan to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, majoring in elementary education and minoring in graphic design. I’m so grateful for the opportunity the “We The Future” competition has provided for me.

Watch Evie’s Winning Social Media Video Below:

Our Interview With Evie

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
This was the first time I entered the We The Future Contest.

How did you hear about the contest?
I heard about the contest on a Scholarship Website. I was looking for opportunities for students in grades below seniors.

What inspired your work?
One of the main things that inspired my work was my desire for widespread knowledge of the Constitution. I know the importance of learning in youth, so I wanted to create something that would explain the Constitution to people of all ages.

What did you learn about the U.S. Constitution while creating your entry?
I learned so much about the Constitution while making my entry. I learned how it originated, who helped draft it, and some of the fundamental rights that are addressed in its many amendments.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
Luckily, as a junior, my entire grade at school is required to take U.S History. We’ve been able to learn a lot about the Constitution from our teacher and other resources. I plan on broadening discussions about the Constitution to reach younger audiences when their minds are still so impressionable with the importance of our government’s roots.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
Ever since I was young, I’ve dreamed of visiting the Washington Monument. Such a feat of architecture has always drawn my attention, especially as it is a tribute to our very first president, who I look up to for his strength and values. I also am super interested in the Lincoln Monument. I’d love to see the giant statue of the president.

What are your career plans?
In the future, I plan on becoming an elementary teacher. I want to be a key part in bringing up the next generation and preparing to instill the fundamental leadership skills that are required to keep a nation going.

How do you spend your free time?
In my free time, I love doing anything creative. I enjoy sewing, animation, writing, and, above all, drawing. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, as well.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution may just seem like an old piece of paper, but it impacts every aspect of our lives today. The Constitution is the very basis of our law system here in the United States, and I think it’s what really keeps our country going. It ties us together with our history and values.

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Tamnhi Huynh

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Tamnhi Huynh is a first-generation Vietnamese-American business student pursuing a degree in Accounting and Finance at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a driven scholar in Cohort 22 of the Goolsby Leadership Academy and a proud member of UT Arlington’s Honors College. She aspires to pursue her Master’s in Accounting and earn her certification to become a Certified Public Accountant. Beyond academics, she excelled as a competitive figure skater, representing Team USA in the 2020-2021 season after competing both nationally and internationally for over 12 years. She now coaches athletes, guiding them to achieve peak performance and helping them fulfill their athletic aspirations.

Watch Tamnhi’s Winning Social Media Video Below!

Our Interview With Tamnhi

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
Yes

How did you hear about the contest?
My economics professor, Brandon Vanderford, had spoken about the competition in class and encouraged us to participate.

What inspired your work?
What inspired my work were the parallels I saw between the civil civic discussions people have today and the teamwork and discussion I have experienced as a competitive athlete.

What did you learn about the U.S. Constitution while creating your entry?
I learned more about my rights as a U.S. citizen and further information regarding how the U.S. government operates, such as the mechanism of checks and balances.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
As my video discussed, having open-minded conversations with each other about the U.S. Constitution and how it impacts our lives often. Through the First Amendment’s protection of our Freedom of Speech, we are able to freely discuss our opinions and take steps toward making our country a better place.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
I have always wanted to visit the Statue of Liberty. Apart from being in one of the most important cities in the nation’s history, Lady Liberty is one of the most iconic and well-known symbols of freedom and friendship.

What are your career plans?
I aspire to become a Certified Public Accountant and earn my Master’s degree in Accounting.

How do you spend your free time?
I enjoy watching movies with my family and crocheting.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution remains relevant as the foundation of the U.S. government, granting and protecting Americans’ rights and freedoms.

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Klara Karren

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Klara is a freshman at Fairview High School in a small town in eastern Montana with her entire grade totaling 25 people. She is connected to her community through volunteering at her church and the local food bank, while working part-time at a restaurant. At school, she’s actively involved in several clubs such as: student council, science club, yearbook club, and Hope Squad. Klara has a passion for history, which inspired her to create this social media video about the Constitution—an opportunity she’s truly grateful for.

In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, playing the piano, crafting, making homemade gifts for others and spending time outdoors. She cherishes moments with her cat, named Kitten, and her close-knit family and friends. Looking ahead, she aspires to become a dental hygienist and have lots of furry friends to enjoy with her future family. She said, “I am incredibly thankful for the “We The Future” team for giving me this opportunity!”

Watch Klara’s Winning Social Media Video Below!

Our Interview With Kiara

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
Yes this was my first time entering the contest!

How did you hear about the contest?
Originally, my mom heard about it on Facebook and suggested my older sister enter it. She was chosen as a winner last year and while she was on her epic Constituting America trip, I decided to give it a try too. I also had a Constituting America representative have a Zoom meeting with my class earlier in the school year.

What inspired your work?
When the zoom call with the representative happened, she taught us about RAPPS and I instantly knew that I wanted to make a rap about RAPPS!

What did you learn about the U.S. Constitution while creating your entry?
I learned that the Constitution keeps our rights safe, and that it is really important for our country!

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
I will tell them about the amazing freedom that the constitution provides to us. If given the opportunity to share, I’d love to share my social media video with my classmates. I hope to share photos/videos from the trip when I return as well.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
All of them! But I always wanted to specifically see the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and Monticello. I’m a big fan of our country’s history and can’t believe I get to go see some places in person!

What are your career plans?
I want to become a dental hygienist, especially for youth and children.

How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time reading, crafting, and enjoy being outdoors.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution is relevant because it shows our rights and it keeps us free!

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