Congratulations to rising junior Ashley Vance, a winner of the Young Native Writers essay contest.  Ashley and four other students were honored at a public ceremony July 22, held at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.  The contest recognized outstanding young Native Americans who wrote on issues affecting their communities.  Ashley won a scholarship and a trip to Washington, where she and the other students and their teachers participated in a behind the scene tour of the NMAI's collections, attended writing workshops with award-winning author Tim Tingle, and met senators and other dignitaries.  Ashley's essay on blood quantum and tribal membership can be found at http://nativewriters.hklaw.com/ESSAYS/2010/index.asp.