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Politics & Government

Dearborn Students Recognized for Law Day Essays

Local fifth through eighth graders wrote essays on the issue of language barriers in law for this year's contest.

Dearborn’s recently recognized local students' efforts in honor of the city's annual Law Day essay contest.

Chief Judge Richard Wygonik, Judge Mark Somers, State Rep. George T. Darany and Rotary President-Elect Hassen Hammoud presented awards honoring the winners of the 2012 Law Day student essay contest at the courthouse. Also present for the ceremony were Magistrates Linda Mack, Doraid Elder and Adel Harb.

Judge William C. Hultgren was not able to attend.

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Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to mark the nation’s commitment to the rule of law. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1st as the official date for celebrating Law Day. The 19th District Court is one of many associations, courts, schools, and civic groups across the country that commemorates the event each year.   

The theme of this year’s contest was Language Barriers. It drew hundreds of entries from the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders at Dearborn’s public and private middle schools, according to the court.

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Sixteen winning essays were selected, with first place, second place, third place and honorable mention awards presented in each grade level.

Each winner received a certificate and a Barnes and Noble gift card of varying values, all of which were donated by the Dearborn Rotary Club.

The students also received certificates recognizing their achievement from the State of Michigan, signed by Rep. Darany and state Sen. Morris W. Hood III. 

The winners of the Law Day essay contest are as follows:

Fifth grade

  • First place: Ahmed Dakhlallah,
  • Second place: Shahab Abdullah,
  • Third place: Zainab Mroue,
  • Honorable mention: Camryn Pieknik,

Sixth grade

  • First place: Adam Sleiman,
  • Second place: Nadine Bazzi,
  • Third place: Roukaya Najdi,
  • Honorable mention: Janice Stefanide,

Seventh grade

  • First place: Kathleen VanAntwerp,
  • Second place: Johnpaul Vega,
  • Third place: Abraham Alawy,
  • Honorable mention: Yaser Alsalman, O.L. Smith

Eighth grade

  • First place: Napilh Abdullah, Salina
  • Second place: Alexis Rankin, O.L. Smith
  • Third place: Olivia LaPointe, O.L. Smith
  • Honorable mention: Afrah Meree, Salina
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