Politics & Government

Dearborn Students Honored as Winners of 2013 Law Day Essay Contest

Students from public and private schools were invited to write an essay on the theme, "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All."

The judges of Dearborn’s 19th District Court joined students on May 1 at the courthouse to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Law Day.

Chief Judge Sam Salamey, Judge Mark Somers, and Rotary Club of Dearborn President Hassen Hammoud presented awards honoring the winners of the 2013 Law Day student essay contest. Also present for the ceremony were 19th District Court Magistrates Linda Mack, Doraid Elder, and Adel Harb.

“We are blessed in the city of Dearborn to have so many organizations and schools that honor Law Day,” Judge Salamey said, thanking the Rotary Club and Dearborn Public Schools for their support of the program.

Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight Eisenhower to mark the nation’s commitment to the rule of law. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day.

Dearborn’s 19th District Court joins bar associations, courts, schools, and civic groups across the country in commemorating the event each year.

The theme of this year’s contest was "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All." Students were asked to write an essay addressing the issues of citizens’ responsibilities in protecting each others’ religious freedoms, as well as what would happen if citizens did not fulfill those responsibilities.

In Dearborn, the contest drew hundreds of entries from students in the fifth through eighth grade among the city’s public and private middle schools.

Sixteen winning essays were selected. First, second and third place winners from each grade level were awarded, along with honorable mentions.

Each winner received a certificate and a Barnes & Noble gift card courtesy of the Dearborn Rotary Club.

2013 Law Day essay winners:

Fifth grade

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First place: Regina Arriola, Divine Child

Second place: Amaria White, Duvall

Third place: Jordan Morris, Nowlin

Honorable mention: Lujane Alsalman, River Oaks

Sixth grade

First place: Katherine Paison, O.L. Smith

Second place: Adam Fregolle, O.L. Smith

Third place: Amaya Kuznick, O.L. Smith

Honorable mention: Madison Hayes, O.L. Smith

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Seventh grade

First place: Seth Szalay, Divine Child

Second place: Caitlin Landwehr, Divine Child

Third place: Lauren Pavlak, Divine Child

Honorable mention: Reem Aburukba, Woodworth

Eighth grade

First place: Johnpaul Vega, O.L. Smith

Second place: Madison Murdoch, Bryant

Third place: Joseph Schwind, Bryant

Honorable mention: Yasmeen Khalil, Bryant


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