May 22, 2007 – Kathryn Carpenito, a senior at Salem High School, has been selected as the 2007 recipient of the Salem and Windham Democratic Town Committees’ scholarship.

Representatives of both towns’ Democratic committees will present a proclamation of congratulations from Governor John Lynch to Ms. Carpenito at the Salem High School Award Ceremony May 23.

This marks the first year that the Salem and Windham Democratic Town Committees have teamed up to offer a scholarship to a graduating senior who will be attending a post-secondary institution. Criteria for the award include academic merit, community service, financial need and completion of an essay answering the question “What traits do you believe are important for our next President?”

Ms. Carpenito noted in her winning essay, “It is time for America to return to its grassroots values of family and education…it is time for a president who will lead with honesty and integrity in Washington and bring back these values.”

Ms. Carpenito has a 4.01 G.P.A. and will be attending Tufts University in the fall. She is the daughter of Jane and James Carpenito of Salem.

Ms. Carpenito is the Student Council president and Senior Class treasurer. In addition, she is the co-chair of the Peer Tutoring Program and co-president of the Young Democrats Club at Salem High School. The National Honor Society member is also involved with the 2007 Relay For Life of Salem as a planning committee member and team captain. Ms. Carpenito also volunteers monthly at the Greystone Farm assisted living facility in Salem.

“The field of applicants was of exceptionally high quality, and we look forward to continuing this tradition annually,” said Chris Rossetti, chair of the Windham Democratic Town Committee.

“We are grateful to members of our Committees in both Salem and Windham who generously responded to what was probably an unusual request by a political group,” said Laurel Redden, chair of the Salem Democratic Town Committee. “The tremendous response we received will allow the Salem and Windham Democrats to continue -- and possibly even expand -- our scholarship program next year.”

Essay by Kathryn Carpenito

What traits do you believe are important for our next president to possess?

In recent years, America has taken a horrible turn on both global and domestic fronts,. The country’s global reputation has been tarnished by a widely unsupported war and the same issue has torn the American population apart. Important domestic issues of health care, social security, and education have been overlooked by a single agenda administration working for “national security.” It is time for this to stop. It is time for America to return to its grassroots values of family and education. Most importantly, it is time for a president who will lead with honesty and integrity in Washington and bring back these values to the American reputation.

At this point in the American timeline, after an eight-year stretch of a war-minded White House, it is time to focus on more humanitarian and social causes. The world today is ridden with disease, conflict and poverty – issues that have been overlooked in recent history. America needs someone who will stand up for the single mothers of Darfur just as strongly as for Iraqi women. It is time for a president who shows kindness and compassion to fellow human beings and supports this thinking with policy. Under the current administration, both global and domestic humanitarian policy has been an atrocity, and it is vital that our next president focus on these issues seriously. For example, President Bush has cut funding for AmeriCorps, a program that has been widely helpful to underprivileged Americans by providing disaster relief, education, after school programs, affordable housing and much more. The budget cuts to AmeriCorps in recent years have shown nothing but negligence and a lack of compassion by President Bush. With a president who respects the right to life of every human being, whether it be an American or an Iraqi, our country could make a global impact as the leader of the Free World.

In addition, the next president must possess the intelligence and foresight to take on the scientific issues facing our nation. The next fifty years will bring major conflict in two distinct areas: global warming and energy. The president must be one who is willing to tackle these problems head-on and initiate plans to do so. As always, it will be important to put an emphasis on investigating alternative energy forms; however, this must be done differently than ever before. As a country, we need to band together under an administration that promotes scientific education about the serious effects of global warming. By promoting small things, like recycling and carpooling, in a big way, the influence of the White House could make very real progress in these areas.

Under a president who exhibits this integrity, humanitarianism, and scientific outlook, the American public will greatly benefit. Hopefully, with such a leader, this country will return to its well respected position as a global power.

NEWS