Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School sophomore Kira Shipway of Vineyard Haven has been awarded the 2009 Kurshan Global Scholarship by the U.S. branch of the International Education and Resource Network, iEARN.

This will allow her to attend the organization’s youth summit in Ifrane, Morocco, to be held July 19 to 25.

Through iEARN, young people are empowered to learn with, rather than simply about, the world, using new technologies in collaborative projects that both enhance learning and make a difference in the world.

Kira will be the ninth Kurshan Scholar to participate in this international event. Student applicants from all over the country are considered based on a written essay they submit, along with an accompanying letter of recommendation from a teacher.

In her winning essay, Kira expressed her dream for a career, perhaps as a photojournalist. Her introduction to iEARN came through Chris Baer, her photography teacher at the regional high school. Mr. Baer brought the iEARN program into the high school, specifically through the A Day in the Life project, where students document through photography their daily lives to exchange with students around the world.

Mr. Baer will also attend the education conference, Innovative Technologies and Cross Cultural Dialogue for Quality Education, that will be held simultaneously with the youth summit, at the Al Akhawayn University campus in Ifrane.