There are three weeks left until students can enter the National Center for State Courts' Civics Education Essay Contest.
In the fifth year of the competition, students in grades 3-12 are asked to write about the role that citizens should play in shaping their communities and governments. Inspired by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, participants who thoughtfully engage with this theme can win up to $1,050.
Molly Justice, the organization's director of communications and marketing, said, “NCSC's essay contest is an opportunity for students to express their ideas about how government affects the rights and responsibilities they enjoy every day.'' “We think it's a great way to share.” “Over the years, we have been impressed by the way our students think seriously about our questions and connect them with personal experiences, current events, case law, and history.”
Submissions are judged by Center staff and members of the court community based on how clearly the student discusses the topic in up to 100 or 250 words, which varies by grade. The deadline for submission is March 22nd at midnight (EST), and if you are a minor, you will need permission from your parent or teacher.
“In our efforts to support state courts, we have found a growing need to educate the next generation about the importance of the judicial branch and its impact on society,” the judge said. “We also hope this competition will help stimulate students' interest in public service, whether it be the courts, the legal profession, or related fields.”
Last year, Mariam Abaza, then a senior at Dublin Jerome High School in Dublin, Ohio, placed third among her peers in the competition. She discussed students' First Amendment rights on and off school grounds, with an essay centered on the role of freedom of expression in the American Dream.
Doug Stein, manager of civic education and outreach for the Ohio Supreme Court, encourages students participating in the competition to connect their essays to their own experiences. He said successful submissions will demonstrate students' understanding of how their lives and the lives of others are affected by government, especially the judiciary.