Judge Memorial Catholic High School junior Brynn Copinga has been named a quarterfinalist in Yale University’s The Politic High School Essay Competition. The competition, organized by The Politic—Yale University’s undergraduate journal of politics and culture—received more than 1,000 entries from six continents.
Copinga wrote an essay addressing whether policy alone can make Utah's water reach the Great Salt Lake. Her research involved interviewing State Senator Jennifer Plumb and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, as well as analyzing past state legislation. Through this work, Copinga identified a disconnect between legislative funding and real-world impact, noting a lack of precise tracking regarding the volume of water reaching the lake.
Copinga stated that while passing laws is beneficial, it is not enough to restore the Great Salt Lake. She noted that although the amount of money passed in legislation is often cited, there is no information being tracked that could be placed on a chart to show exactly how much water is entering the lake or what specific numbers are required.
Copinga's interest in environmental issues grew after she took a summer environmental science class through the University of Colorado Boulder. She expressed a passion for the environment and the outdoors, noting that writing about a topic she is passionate about made the process feel less like a burden. She encouraged other students to participate in writing opportunities like this competition to gain experience for their future careers.
Beyond her academic interests, Copinga is an athlete who competes in mountain biking and big-mountain freeride skiing. Prior to recovering from an ACL injury, she held a national ranking of 9th.
