2023-24 Civics Scholarship Essay Contest Winners
June 14, 2024 – TheLegacyof1776.Com recently recognized the winners of its 2023 Civics Scholarship Essay Contest; the first-place winner, Jack Swartley is a Central Bucks West High School, Doylestown, PA senior and the runner-up Kayla Brown is a senior attending Harry S. Truman High School in Bristol, PA.
This civics contest, now in its third year, evolved from a concern that over the past 30 years, America has become a nation increasingly characterized by partisan political and social tribalism, a loss of confidence in and distrust of many of our nation’s most critically-important and historically-trusted institutions, a growing public perception our judicial system has become politicized along ideological lines, a latent distrust of local law enforcement agencies in many minority communities, a rejection of evidence-based science, calls for censorship and limitations of speech and willingness on the part of many to endorse unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.
While the causes for our nation’s current political and cultural schisms are multifaceted, it is undeniable a significant majority of Americans on both the Right and Left seem to be ignorant or have lost sight of our nation’s founding ideals American history, civics and the bedrock of our democracy, the Constitution. A growing number of people now limit their media consumption to only those sources which echo and justify their preconceived and often misinformed views of the world … letting their opinions determine the facts they are willing to believe rather than letting facts shape their opinions.
Believing today’s young adults represent our nation’s “future generations” of voters and political leaders, in 2021 TheLegacyof1776.com began sponsoring a scholarship essay contest focusing on an appreciation for and knowledge of American Civics and our Constitution.
This year’s students were challenged to write a 300-500 word essay answering the question; “To what degree, if any, does the US Constitution permit democratically elected or appointed public officials to prescribe elementary, secondary and collegiate school curricula, remove books from libraries, regulate classroom discussion topics, or restrict potentially offensive language used on campuses … while respecting the rights of parents, students, faculties, staffs, and the larger community who often hold dramatically differing political, religious, cultural, and social values, opinions and interests?”
A panel of ten independent judges spanning the political spectrum read and rated each of the submissions with their collective consensus determining the first and second place awardees.
Jack Swartley has received a $2,500 scholarship and membership to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, courtesy of the center. He was a member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society and was also a member of the school’s golf team.
In addition to his notable academic achievements, Jack has been active in community affairs, serving as a Doylestown Borough Junior Councilman where focused on shaping policies that benefit local residents’ well-being and prosperity. He was also involved in making impactful decisions on all aspects of government, including budgets, economic development, community affairs, and was able to represent the Council at events and parties.
Concerned about the challenges of food insecurity in his community, Jack is a volunteer with the Bucks County Housing group; managing food collection, sorting, and distribution at their Doylestown food pantry.
He plans to enroll at Ohio State University to Study Economics and Political Science, with a longer-term goal of a position in the White House after graduation.
Kayla Brown has received a $1,000 scholarship and membership to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Her commitment and determination have been evident during her high school career, graduating in just three years.
Aside from her academic successes, Kayla has overcome many adversities in her life. Kayla is a determined and resilient student who provides for her family by working and going to school full time. Kayla embraces the circumstances beyond her control and uses her drive to be a better student, sister, and friend. Due to her nurturing nature, Kayla has decided to hopefully one day use these skills to create a meaningful career as a nurse.
She will be attending Webster University beginning this fall where she plans to pursue a Nursing degree.
The editor of TheLegacyof1776.Com recognizes initiatives such as this contest represent a very small step in preserving and protecting our liberties and fragile democracy in the face of overwhelming challenges. Yet, that doesn’t mean one can’t or shouldn’t try … as the stakes are so high!
A Chinese philosopher once observed, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
2022 Winners
This year interested Bucks County high school seniors were challenged to write ad 250-300 word essay answering the question: “Should the Constitution be interpreted based on a literal reading of the document’s original text (“originalism”) or viewed in the context of our nation’s evolving social, scientific and other changes since the time when it was written (a “living constitution”) and why?“
Jessie Jin, a Council Rock North High School senior, was this year’s first-place winner was presented with a Certificate of Recognition and a $2,500 scholarship award. Council Rock North’s Assistant Principal Jennifer Bertagni joined Jesse for the presentation.
Dick Newbert (Editor of TheLegacyof1776.Com) and Jessie Jin
Jessie Jin is a senior at Council Rock High School North. In high school, she enjoyed conducting research through Science Fair. She also promotes STEM by organizing STEM workshops as an officer for Education Equals Empowerment and as the president of the Science National Honor Society. Beyond science, she is passionate about music and plays the flute in band and viola in orchestra. Her future plans are to major in biomedical engineering in college, though she is undecided about becoming a biomedical engineer or physician in the future. She hopes to contribute to the medical field by combining her interdisciplinary interests in the life sciences.
The second-place scholarship award of $1,000 and Certificate of Recognition was given to Hailey Morath, a graduating senior attending Conwell-Egan Catholic High School. Heather, who had no prior knowledge of her award, was joined by her parents and a number of members of the Conwell-Egan’s Faculty and Administration.
(l to r) Matthew Fischer (Principal), Hailey Morath and Dick Newbert (Editor of TheLegacyof1776.Com)
Hailey, took many STEM based courses through her high school career, along with some dual enrollment courses to get ahead on college credits. She also received Academic First Honors all throughout my high school career and has been active in many extracurricular and community service activities including the Conwell-Egan Drama Spring and Fall Productions, Chamber Choir, All-Catholic Chorus, Acapella Club, Spirit Night, National Honor Society, and Danaher Lynch Family Foundation Scholar. She has applied to a number of colleges where she plans to study Marine Sciences and become an Oceanographer.
2021 Winners
Interested students were encouraged to write ad 250-300 word essay answering the question: “What, if any, are, should be or should not be limitations on the freedoms granted and responsibilities imposed by the Bill of Rights … and why?
Vijay, an HGP senior who will major in computer science and has applied to the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas, and UCLA, wrote the winning essay. He received a $2,500 scholarship.
Kamaljeeth Vijay being recognized as the contest winner by Dick Newbert
Patrick Lichtner, a Holy Ghost Prep senior who has applied to Navy, Army, and Penn State and plans to major in finance, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for his second-place essay.
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Patrick Lichtner receiving his award from Dick Newbert
Patrick, also a Holy Ghost Prep senior had applied to Navy Academy, West Point, and Penn State and planned to major in finance, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for his second-place essay. He has subsequently won an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and donated his scholarship monies to be used to provide a scholarship to a needy 2022-23 Holy Ghost student.