POTSDAM -- Potsdam student Nathaniel Brown has placed in the top 20 of the Beautiful Minds Challenge, an international essay and art contest hosted by Marlboro College.

Brown’s submission featured a song and short explanation describing what made the song beautiful. He explained that he wrote the song during his participation in Operation Christmas Child, which distributes gifts to needy children.

As one of the runners-up Brown will be invited to attend a student symposium at Marlboro College, with all expenses paid.

The challenge, a contest for high school students, drew 75 submissions from 23 states and two countries. The top three entries will receive cash prizes, and the 20 finalists, including Brown, will attend the symposium Feb. 21 to 23.

“We were very pleased by the range of responses and the depth of thought students put into their submissions,” said Ariel Brooks, director of non-degree programs at Marlboro, who administered the challenge. “Some of them take your breath away, and all of the finalists demonstrate the independent thinking characteristic of Marlboro students.”

To view the submissions, including a video of Brown’s song, visit http://minds.marlboro.edu/2013/01/10/2012-runner-up-submissions/.