Evan Evans
Park Middle School
Kennewick, Washington

Evan Evans is an 11-year-old student at Park Middle School in Kennewick, Washington. He participated in the MindOH! Foundation's 2002 Character's Cool Contest, and won an Pacific-10 Conference hat.

The Character's Cool Contest was a national contest for middle school students to help stop school violence and to encourage the practice of ethical behavior. Participants completed an online survey about their experiences in the aftermath of Sept 11th, bullying and school violence, and the ethical behavior and character qualities needed to reduce school violence.

When asked about the first emotion he felt upon learning about the September 11th attacks, Evan felt sad. Evan's parents and school both talked to him about the events of September 11th. Evan wrote that he thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and he's actually seen someone being bullied in his school. According to Evan, Park Middle School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence.

"If they see a kid being pushed around, the adults step in to help," Evan wrote. "Also kids are encouraged to report if they are being bullied."

Evan thinks it's important for young people to learn how to manage their anger and resolve conflicts peacefully, and that it's important to be respectful of others, even when you disagree. The character qualities Evan thinks people need to have to reduce violence include Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Courage, Cooperation, Tolerance, Love, Patience, and Self Control.

According to Evan, Park Middle School does not teach him about these qualities, but he does think about them and try to practice them personally.

"My mom works with me on these qualities," Evan wrote.

The Character's Cool Contest is not the first contest Evan has won - he has a number of impressive accomplishments under his belt. Evan won the 2000 Millennium Dreamers Awards, which brought him to Disney World!

"I got to go on rides," Evan wrote. "I get sick, so I didn't go on the fast ones. I got to go to this cool meeting with the first women who went to the moon … also the guy on Star Trek [was there], and the man who was on the reading rainbow. We got to go and eat at fancy restaurants and all expense were paid."

Evan has also won the 2001 Start Something Award. "Target and the Tiger Wood Foundation have workbooks to help kids start something good in their communities. I have a dream of working for Disney and being a computer animator. I was awarded $5,000 to get the equipment and training to make this dream a reality."

Evan is also on the 6th grade Principal's List, won the President's Physical Fitness Award and was part of the honor role in 5th grade.

Evan enjoys playing soccer and basketball, "I love to play them a lot -- it's so fun. I also like to play "TAG" games."

Evan participates in Natural Helpers and attended fall 2001 weekend training. He has made his way through the ranks of the Boy Scouts, having joined Blue Mountain Troop 154 in October 2000 and becoming a First Class Boy Scout in March 2002. Evan plays the trombone for the 6th grade band, and is interested in computer graphics and computer web pages. He is also an assistant computer tutor.

"In summer 2000 I started volunteering for my parents who run the RECA Foundation. They work with kids to learn computers. Some of these kids have disabilities and need extra attention. I also staffed their booth at the Family A Fair and at Earth Day 2000. I handed out stickers on computer access and training. See www.tcfn.org. I have spent about 20 hours through June of 2001."

Evan admires and looks up to his friend Marshall. "He is very smart and wise, and since he is older, he has very good ideas to help with world problems. I love to talk to him and I try to go over and talk to him every week!"

Evan wrote that Park Middle School is like every other school. "I have 7 teachers and they're all very nice, but I like Mrs. Dolman the best. She teaches really well and is very fun. I usually walk around with my friends at school. My favorite subjects are Math and Science!"

If Evan could travel anywhere in the world, he would go to France. "I want to go there, but I'm already going there this spring on vacation. So I would like to go to Australia where the forest and wild jungles and the FOOD. I love FOOD."

When he grows up, Evan wants to be a lawyer or a teacher. "I want to be a lawyer because I think it will be fun, I like law, and I love to argue. I want to be a teacher because I want to teach a lot. I kind of want to be a computer animator because I love computers and I love animation!!!"

Evan is funny, social, smart, thin, fast and hipper. One piece of advice Evan has for other students across the United States about stopping school violence is, "Work hard in school both physically and mentally, and do your best to stop violence and be a peacemaker!"

Evan's family is as dedicated to stopping school violence as he is. Check out his sister's anti-violence Web site at www.y2kyouth.org.