WHAT DOES OUR AMERICAN COMMUNITY ASK OF US?

This year’s essay and video contest asks students to consider this fundamental question—“how should we as a society strike the appropriate balance within the framework of our Constitution between safeguarding our rights and fulfilling our responsibilities to each other?” Students will focus on important events in American history and global events that have challenged us to find a balance between inalienable individual rights and collective responsibilities to each other.

All high school students in the Western District of Washington from public, private, parochial and charter schools and home-schooled students of equivalent grade status are encouraged to enter. Children of federal judges, chambers staff, and employees of federal court offices are not eligible to participate. Please view the Contest flyer here.  For more information about the local contest, please contact Johanna Moody-Gatlin at (206) 370-8852 or Johanna_Moody@wawd.uscourts.gov

Entries are being accepted between February 1 and April 15, 2021.

CONTEST RULES, RESOURCES, AND ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS may be found at: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest/

Cash prizes have been increased at both the District and Circuit levels. (See attached flyer for specific amounts.) Cash prizes for the top three local contest winners in the essay and video competitions will be awarded, along with Honorable Mention certificates for the three next best essays and videos. The top three finalists who place in each category will compete in the Ninth Circuit contest.

The contest is sponsored by U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Circuit’s Public Information and Community Outreach Committee sponsor.

Please spread the word and encourage our young adults to learn and engage in this civics contest.