The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-11-06
EDWARD BOWDEN'|' N IS GIVEN AWARD,
 ESSAY P RIz E.
How Education Develops the Power to Think Is
 National Essay Subject

J J
 Edward BoWden, Is, senior in the class of 1886, Juneau High School, Juneau, Alaska, of which A, s. Dun ham is principal and Everett R. Erickson, English teacher, was of ficially announced today as the win ner for Alaska in the second nation wide essay contest conducted by In- ternational Business Machines Cor poration. The contest, which has just closed, offered awards to the writers of the best essay in each State on the subject How Education Develops the Power to Think" and an award to the schools they at tend. A national award of a four year university tuition scholarship at a college of the winners choice was also offered for the best essay submitted in the contest, which was open to all junior and senior high school students in the United States.
 In his letter of congratulation. Thomas J. Watson, president of In ternational Business Machines Cor poration, stated:
 Since the content and handling 'of your paper reveal deep under standing of the fundamental princi- pie of education, I think it needless for me to advise you how to think eff fectively. Remember always th a t there is no saturation point in edu- cation Life offers each of us con-
 utunity to learn but the Knowledge we gain becomes valuable only when we use wisdom in apply ing 1t to the best advantage.
 Bearing in mlna that world prog ress is dependent upon the develop ment of advanced thinkers, I trust that you will be one of those who Will accept the challenge and con- tinue in planned educational ca reer."
 The contest, which opened at the beginning of the year, was designed to emphasize the important part the school plays in the development of mans most important faculty,-the power to think; to stimulate a deep CT student understanding of the training processes necessary to prop CT mental development, and to in- spire more active interest in tall ents for creative writing, MT. Wat son declared in his announcement att that time.
 Statistics show that approximate ly one-half of the students who en- ter hign school fail to complete the course and it was hoped that the preparation of these essays might convince the students, and through them their parents, of the necessity of high school education.
 Winners of this years contest ranged in age from 15 to IS years. Of the total of 51 winners, 6 were from parochial and 1 from private schools, the remainder being from public schools. The number of girls represented was exactly twice the number of boys, and the division by classes was 34 seniors and IT juniors.
 Judges of the contest were Dr Aurelia Henry Reinhardt, president of Mills College, Dr. Clarence A. Barbour president of Brown Uni versity; Rev. John F. O'Hara, c. S. C.. president of the University of Notre Dame; Dr. Ray Lyman Will bur, president of Stanford Univer- sity and Dr. Edward c. Elliott, pres ident of Purdue University.
 Edward Bowden won for the Ju- neau High School an International all electric writing machine and a wall placque. As his own prize he received an inscribed wrist watch.
 Bowden is now a freshman at the University of Washington where he plans to major in law. He entered Juneau High School last year from Seattle, Washington, during the be- ginning of his senior year. He was active in dramatics and declamation. a prominent member of the Totem and J Bird staffs, a member of Mummers, Rifle Club and charter member of Quill and Scroll, journal istic society for high schools throughout the world He was among the first ten in scholarship in class of 40.