On Constitution Day (September 17), the FCBA announced the winners of its Ninth Annual Constitution Contest.
Twenty-two high school students from the Northern District entered this year’s contest, which offered two categories: (1) for video essays shorter than 10 minutes in duration that have been posted on YouTube; and (2) for posters in any medium (paper or digital) submitted in PDF format.
All entries were required to address one of the following four topics: (1) the independence of federal court judges; (2) the 17 enumerated powers of Congress; (3) the 27 amendments to the Constitution; and (4) James Madison’s famous “If men were angels” passage from Federalist Paper No. 51 dated February 8, 1788.
Entries came from five high schools in the Northern District: Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Onondaga County; Guilderland High School in Albany County; Niskayuna High School in Schenectady County; Shenendehowa High School in Saratoga County; and Averill Park High School in Rensselaer County.
Entries in each category were evaluated by six federal judges: U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby; U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci; U.S. Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks; U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart; U.S. Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric; and U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell J. Katz.
The judges evaluated each entry based on the extent that the entry’s answers to the questions posed in the topic were complete, clear, and cogent.
First place in the Video Category went to Anqi Geng of Fayetteville-Manlius High School, who was awarded $1,000 for her entry on Topic 4. See https://youtu.be/njeR0jz1ijQ. Second place in the Video Category went to Alyssa Sarrosa of Guilderland High School, who was awarded $400 for her entry on Topic 3. See https://youtu.be/8W_lLIAtcrY. Third place in the Video Category was shared by Olivia Ngai of Shenendehowa High School and Ayesha Afghan of Niskayuna High School, who each received $100.
First place in the Poster Category went to Raghav Raj of Niskayuna High School, who was awarded $1,000 for his entry on Topic 1. See Attached Entry P-16. Second place in the Poster Category went to Ryan Rainka Niskayuna High School, who was awarded $400 for his entry on Topic 3. See Attached Entry P-3. Third place in the Poster Category was shared by Vika Grovenge of Averill Park High School, Rushad Sayhan of Guilderland High School, Brydie Kelley of Guilderland High School, Riyagail Benoy of Guilderland High School, and Diane Son of Niskayuna High School, who each received $100.
Ten of the remaining contestants received honorable mention and shared the remainder of $3,750 in prize money.
The contest was open to all students in grades 9 through 12 in the 32 counties that constitute the Northern District of New York. Notices of the contest were sent to administrators and teachers at each high school in the Northern District, as well as state and regional education councils, local newspapers, and local community organizations.
The tenth annual contest will be announced in winter 2025. A list of official rules and available topics will be available on the contest’s website, www.constitutionalscholars.org.