Ji’Ya Alcorn is an impressive 14 year old, in many ways. Not the least of which is that she has already survived devastating loss in her young life after her 16 year old brother, Chaz was murdered in 2012. Ji’Ya did not give up and succumb to grief; instead she has worked harder than ever to make a difference in the world. She excels in school, shines on the Henry Clay softball team and recently had her first job interview. In addition to all of that, she was just awarded 1st prize in an essay contest held as a part of the #NOMOREHIDDENFIGURES put on by the Nerd Squad. You can read her wonderful essay here: Peace at War