CONCORD, NH- The New Hampshire Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of its first annual High School Civics Essay Contest, who will be recognized at a special ceremony at the New Hampshire Supreme Court in Concord on Tuesday, April 22nd at 2 pm. Kendra Jozokos, a senior at Salem High School, placed first in the competition, earning a $5,000 cash award. The runners up, who will each receive a $2,500 cash award, are Merrimack Valley High School Senior Addyson Kimball, Hanover High School Junior Benjamin Hourdequin, and Bedford High School Junior Eva Piacentini.
The prompt for this year’s contest was, “Should the government be permitted to regulate social media for people under 18?” New Hampshire students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 (or their equivalent) during the 2024-2025 academic year were invited to write 750 to 1,000 words presenting a clear position on the topic. A panel of attorney judges then evaluated each of the 124 submissions on criteria including the understanding of constitutional principles; originality, clarity, and depth of analysis; and grammar, spelling, composition, and citations.
“I was truly impressed by the depth of thought, clarity of expression, and genuine passion each student brought to their essay,” says New Hampshire Bar Foundation Chair Scott Harris, who served as one of the judges. “These young writers demonstrate not only an impressive grasp of constitutional rights, but also a commitment to the principles that uphold our democracy. Their voices give me great confidence in the future of our nation.”
Harris will present each contest winner with an award certificate and cash prize at the ceremony. Attendees will include New Hampshire Supreme Court Justices, the Foundation’s Board of Directors, essay contest judges, and the students’ families and teachers. While the event is by invitation only, members of the media are welcome to attend for coverage purposes.
The New Hampshire Bar Foundation is a nonprofit, grant-making charitable foundation that promotes the role of lawyers in securing equal access to justice and supports the charitable and educational aims of the New Hampshire Bar and its members. The Foundation established the essay contest as part of its commitment to supporting civic-related and law-related educational initiatives in the Granite State. Next year’s High School Civics Essay Contest will be announced in the fall.
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