Every year, the Eastern District of Tennessee Civics Education and Outreach Committee partners with local chapters of the Federal Bar Association to sponsor local essay contests for high school students. The goal is to educate students and engage them in topics about our country's government. Researching and learning about the Constitution and our government equips students to become adults who participate in government and respect and support the Constitution.
For this year's contest, students addressed the topic, "What Does It Mean to Support and Defend the Constitution?" The phrase "to support and defend" comes from the president's oath of office, set out in Article II of the Constitution.
K'Lee Bryant is the winner for the northern divisions of the court, with courthouses in Knoxville and Greeneville, and Lisa Lin is the winner for the southern divisions of the court, with courthouses in Chattanooga and Winchester.
Lisa Lin is a rising 10th grader at Signal Mountain High School. Each winner received either a cash prize of $500 or an iPod and case.
Russell Eslinger