Los Alamos Reporter

2025 U.S. Constitution Essay Contest Is Underway, Entries Due By April 4

BY BARBARA MCKERLEY
LAFRW

The annual U.S. Constitution Essay Contest, sponsored by the Los Alamos Federated Republican
Women (LAFRW), is designed to challenge students to learn more about the Constitution and to express original, thoughtful ideas in essay writing. Essays are judged on how completely and clearly the ideas are stated and supported. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are also considered. This year fourth and fifth graders are asked to submit a poem or art. Judging is blind.

Winners receive cash awards: 
 High School: $300
 Grades 6-8: $200
 Grades 4-5: $100 for winning poem and $100 for winning art

Students in grades 4-5 can address one of the following themes:

  1. The Constitution as America’s greatest strength.
  2. How the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution help ensure that people remain both
    sovereign and free.

    Students in grades 6-8 and in high school can address one of the following themes:
  3. The different powers vested in our three branches of government and why the concept of
    checks and balances, as guaranteed by our Constitution, are vital to the preservation of our government.
  4. How our First Amendment (RAPPS: Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech) rights enable the citizens to influence the laws of our country or initiate a constitutional amendment and, in so doing, prevent the dissolution of the Republic in the ways that have affected other nations in the past (e.g. violent rebellion/uprising or coup d’etat).

    Entries are due no later than 5:00 PM, Friday, April 4, 2025. Place entries in the box marked
    “U.S. Constitution Essay Entries” at Aspen Copies, 1907 Central Avenue.The Awards Ceremony will take place at the Spring Tea (Saturday, April 26, 2:00-4:30 pm) at
    3900 Trinity Drive, Los Alamos. Winners will be notified one week before the event and will be invited to attend with their families as guests. Winners will be invited, but not required, to read their essays at the event.

    For more information and to download guidelines and entry forms,
    visit constitutionessaycontest.com. Contact contest sponsors
    at constitutionessaycontest@gmail.com.