Congratulations to Pine Lake Middle School student Jordan Lederman, who was announced today as one of the three winners of the nation-wide “I Am What I Learn” video contest.

Lederman was featured by The Reporter a few weeks ago, when she made the short-list of 10 finalists from thousands of entries across the country in the U.S. Department of Education contest which challenged students to explain what their education meant to them.

It was part of

President Barack Obama’s challenge to students to take greater responsibility for their education – with a $1,000 incentive for the winning entry.

Lederman’s unique and endearing video featured her explaining her fascination with chickens, and included a host of her feathered friends, such as Mary, a Rhode Island Red and Gertrude, a Silkie Bantam.

Lederman has been interested in chickens since she was five years old, and has used her education to learn more about them.

According to KOMO’s Sammamish blog, Lederman plans to donate some of her prize money to an international organization that purchases hens for poor families.