The Round 1 Winners of Our Remote Learning Comment and Win Contest

When the Wharton Global Youth Program launched a special remote-learning cycle of our annual Comment and Win contest on March 20, we weren’t sure what we would get. #MindBlown. We received 65 smart, reflective, inspiring comments on Knowledge@Wharton High School (KWHS) articles from students around the world. Thank you for hours of insightful and honest reading, as we all navigate this new at-home reality together.

We were struck by a comment from Josephine C., a high school junior in Taiwan. In response to a KWHS Career Insight column featuring Lloyd Howell, Jr., she said, “I realized life may seem unpredictable, but if I am well-prepared, it should not frighten me.” While many of you are unsettled by the changes and uncertainties sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, your thoughtful perspectives on everything from business ethics to deepfake videos and XFL football suggest that you are prepared to think deeply about the world’s problems – and help solve them.

Your comments were fun to read and difficult to judge. Ultimately, we want to see students who use the text to inform their comments, add value to the discussion around the text, express opinions clearly and succinctly, and have an authentic voice. It’s important to remember that you are reflecting on a particular article, not creating an entirely new essay. Be sure to make a connection to the text.

The winner of the first “Anything Goes” round is Abigail C., 16 and a junior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S., for her comment on “Take 5: The Economic Impact of the Coronavirus.” Abby succinctly expressed a clear point of view, while also referring regularly back to aspects of the article. She also added value to the discussion with new insights and ideas about the relationship between the U.S. and China.

Coming in a close second is this round’s first runner up, Ellie Y., 16 and a junior from Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif. Ellie’s comment on the video interview with Jordan Williams was powerful in its brevity and clarity. She expressed her point beautifully in four sentences, proving that sometimes less is more.

“What makes Jordan’s insight so touching is the universality of his struggle.” — Ellie Y., 1st Runner Up

This round, we’re highlighting 10 Comment and Win Superlatives that stand out for their quality relating to a theme. In no particular order, here are this round’s superlative winners:

Best Opinion Comment: Sanjana Y., 16 and a junior at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey, U.S., on “4 Questions for Gen Z Mask Entrepreneur Elvis Zhang”

Most Likely to Become an Economist: Maxwell D., 16 and a sophomore at Eton College in the United Kingdom, for his comment on “Wharton Insights on the Impact and Implications of the Coronavirus.”

Best Technologist in Training: Zach U., 17 and a junior at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S., for his comment on “Drone Technology: Exploring the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Industry.”

Most Likely to be Socially Responsible: Rosemary J., 16 and a junior at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York, U.S., for her comment on “Pursuing Careers that Combine Finance with Social Good.”

Best Perspective on Xenophobia: Claire S., 16 and a junior at the International School of Beijing, China, for her comment on “Take 5: the Economic Impact of the Coronavirus.”

Best Industry Analysis and Curiosity: Abigail C., 16 and a junior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S., for her comment on “9 Business Terms Making News During the Pandemic.”

Most Likely to Motivate a Team: Rikhav S., 16 and a junior at Chaparral High School in Temecula, Calif., for his comment on “Wharton Insights on the Impact and Implications of Coronavirus.”

Best Comment with a Personal Story: Neil H., the Bronx High School of Science, New York, New York, U.S., on “Entrepreneur Jack Abraham on How Innovation Rises from Ruin.”

Most Ethically Aware Comment: Matthew F., 15 and a sophomore at St. Mark’s School of Texas, Dallas, U.S., on the video “Thinking Ethically and Philosophically about the Decisions Companies Make.”

Most Thought-provoking Comment: Kevin L., 15 and a sophomore from Portola High School, Irvine, California, U.S., on “A Massive College Admissions Cheating Scandal Gets People Talking.”

Congratulations to all the winners from Round 1 of our Remote Learning Comment and Win contest! Round 2, during which you must reply to another person’s comment, is active until midnight on April 17. We can’t wait to hear from you!

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact the Wharton Global Youth team.