2004 Great American Think-Off Finalist Biographies

GO TO 2004 ESSAYS

Should Same Sex Marriage be Prohibited?

Robert Lerose developed an interest in politics and social issues at a young age. It continued to grow over thousands of lively discussions around the dinner table with his mother and brother.

He has vivid memories of attending a campaign rally for President Nixon in 1972 and of winning a color photograph of President Kennedy on a bus trip to Washington in 1968. That same year, he became president of his fourth grade class. He doesn't think it changed the course of civilization.

Robert wrote a novel when he was twelve. Today, he writes for businesses around the country. He creates direct mail, ads, brochures, newsletters and articles for companies of all kinds.

He enjoys boating and arguing politics with his brother Douglas, going to the movies with his nephew David, drawing and reading with his niece Catherine, teasing his sister-in-law Cynthia, and appreciating fine cooking with his mother Victoria.

Robert likes to read, listen to music and dine with family and friends.

Jim Schantz was born and raised in Green Bay, WI and graduated High School in 1954. He spent one year at Cardboard Tech, (the University of Wisconsin Extension School) and then three years in the U.S. Army where he was stationed in El Paso, Texas as a field electronics instructor. His job history includes 12 years as an electrician and engineer, 18 years in Real Estate sales and brokerage, and 8 years in construction and remodeling. He is currently retired, or as he describes it, "unemployed and not looking". His family includes 5 children and 10 grandchildren and his hobbies range from woodworking to science to boating.

Sonja Hathaway is a 20 year old college student. For the last two years she has been attending the University of Minnesota, Crookston where she is a sophomore. This fall she will be attending the University of North Dakota. She will be in the English program there.

Sonja was born in Minot, ND. Since then she has lived in many different states including: Tennessee, South Dakota, Montana, California and Virginia. Presently she makes her home in Grand Forks, ND where she lives with her family and her wonderful dog, Freckles.

Sonja has had the benefit of being home educated. She feels that in many ways this has helped her in college because it has taught her to work on her own. She also feels that home schooling has helped her to develop closer relationships with her family members.

Sonja has many hobbies. She loves to listen to music, read, collect stamps, play with her camera, and work on human videos. She also loves rollerblading and spending time with friends and family.

Sonja first heard of the Great American Think-Off in a persuasion class took this last spring. For that class she was required to write an essay on the topic according to the guidelines for this year. Sonja's decision to enter the essay into the contest was a result of her teacher's recommendation.

Christy Hicks is a 34 year-old educator from Ferndale, Michigan who spends much of her time facilitating leadership skill development workshops with young people and adults. Her most cherished possession is her passport, because she loves to travel and experience diverse cultures. Recent adventures included a solo trek across southern Africa (Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa), volunteering to work with primary school teachers in rural Laos, and a Mekong River journey through Cambodia.

When she’s on American soil, Christy’s travel plans tend to revolve around baseball. She and her husband Greg have visited more than thirty major and minor league ballparks during their eight-year marriage, and hope to squeeze in a Twins game after the debate. Cheering for the hometown Tigers might not seem to be a philosophical endeavor at first glance, but Christy credits baseball as an early influence on her interest in ideas. As she explains it, "the pace of baseball offers many opportunities for deep discussions about the nature of the game, and I’ve enjoyed many summertime debates about everything from the impact of the designated hitter to exactly what constitutes a ‘hall of fame performance’ on the field." At home, Christy and Greg share their 90 year-old farmhouse with three highly intelligent cats named Iago, Pershing and Harwell (named after the Tigers’ hall of fame broadcaster, of course).