Leah Hochstetler, a senior at Bethany Christian Schools in Goshen, Ind., won top prize for her essay on youth political involvement in the annual Mennonite Central Committee U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries public policy essay contest.

Honorable mentions went to Corinne Chupp, a Bethany junior; Marina Reinford, a senior at The Circle School in Harrisburg, Pa.; and Eliza Warren, a junior at Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, Va.

Hochstetler explored nonviolent youth political movements in “Hope and Action: Political Involvement and Today’s Youth,” reflecting on the example set by the Children’s Crusade during the Civil Rights Movement and how peaceful youth involvement helped expose the harms of segregation. When the children who were marching and singing were met with violence from authorities, it enraged many people who were until that point indifferent.

“With the right motivation and organization, young people have the power to imagine and build a future beyond the current state of our country and to lead our nation toward a brighter future,” she wrote.

Reinford also addressed youth involvement in social change, identifying simple ways to stand up and make a difference in a community. Chupp and Warren addressed climate change.

The contest encourages youth to explore and understand federal government policy issues while reflecting on how their faith engages with advocacy. It is open to Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and other Anabaptist youth of high school age and to all youth who attend Mennonite-related high schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. As the top essayist among 15 national finalists, Hochstetler will receive $1,000. Chupp, Reinford and Warren will each receive $250.