21 Anniversary
2003
21
2024

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American Freedom Essay Winners

Every Fall, in honor of Constitution Day & Citizenship Day, The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia sponsors its annual American Freedom Essay Contest. The American Freedom Essay Contest challenges educators to have their students write a 100-300 word essay on the importance of freedom in their lives. Entries are judged in Elementary School, Middle School and High School categories with the winner in each category earning a free field trip with The Constitutional Walking Tour for his/her class. The contest generally runs from September through mid-October each year. Check back in September for more details on the next contest.

2023

2022

  • The Voice on a Piece of Paper
    Costanza Akkor
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Philadelphia, PA
    Norwood Fontbonne Academy
    Teacher: Judy Riviezzo
  • The Right To Vote
    Adriana Seigneur
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Weymouth, MA
    Weymouth High School
    Teacher: Nathan Rand

2021

  • Freedom of Speech
    Clarissa Feichtel
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Mechanicsburg, PA
    Eagle View Middle School
    Teacher: Kim Dolbin
  • Freedom of Speech: the Right to Read!
    Pavana Attonito
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Darien, CT
    Hindley Elementary School
    Teacher: Katy Gale
  • The Freedom to Speak
    Daniel Kowalski
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Weymouth, MA
    Weymouth High School
    Teacher: Nathan Rand

2020

  • Why Freedom of Speech is Important
    Teba Latef
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Mount Lebanon High School
    Teacher: Marc Allemang
  • Freedom to Vote
    Jacinda Motley
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Reading, PA
    Reiffton School
    Teacher: Stephanie Isselmann
  • Freedom to Vote
    Liliana Hathaway
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Wormleysburg, PA
    Harrisburg Academy
    Teacher: Lindsay Bowman

2019

2018

  • The Right To Vote
    Dalia Moldovan
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Glen Ridge, NJ
    Ridgewood Avenue School
    Teacher: Alice Roberts
  • The Need for Freedom
    Lauren Tyler Kinard
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Merion Station, PA
    Waldron Mercy Academy
    Teacher: Eileen Flanagan
  • Prophecy of the American Dream Fulfilled
    Suzy Ndandji
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Camden Catholic High School
    Teacher: Christine Palladino

2017

2016

  • The Freedom to Choose
    Kathleen Finnegan
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Greenwich, CT
    Greenwich High School
    Teacher: Aaron Hull
  • A Better America
    Aastha Kapadia
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Morganville, NJ
    Marlboro Memorial Middle School
    Teacher: Amanda Hendrickson
  • The 19th Amendment
    Margaret Zhou
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Ridgewood, NJ
    Hawes Elementary School
    Teacher: Joseph Staunton

2015

  • American Freedom
    Noah Owen
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Pennsville, NJ (Salem County)
    Central Park Elementary School
    Teacher: Cheryl Guglielmo
  • The Importance of Freedom of Religion
    James Pocchia
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Staten Island, NY (Richmond County)
    St. Patrick's School
    Teacher: Phyllis Vreeland and Diane Sussuma
  • Freedom of Speech Leads to Ingenuity
    Abigail Feda
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Greenwich, CT (Fairfield County)
    Greenwich High School
    Teacher: Megan Roby

2014

  • My Gratitude for Freedom of Speech
    Emma Contiguglia
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    New York, NY (New York County)
    The Nightingale-Bamford School
    Teacher: Amanda Goodwin
  • Outlet of Liberty
    Markelda Martinez
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia County)
    Excel Academy South
    Teacher: Jennifer Weaver
  • What Freedom Means To Me
    Olivia Heim
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Lancaster, PA (Lancaster County)
    Centerville Elementary School
    Teacher: Cara Greer

2013

2012

2011

  • The Freedom to Speech
    Abigail Miller
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Fruitland, MD (Wicomico County)
    Fruitland Intermediate School
    Teacher: Christy Briggs
  • Freedom of Speech
    McCall Johnson
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Annapolis, MD (Anne Arundel County)
    St. Anne's School of Annapolis
    Teacher: Yasmin Mesiya
  • Development of Freedom
    Madeline Wolf
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Greenwich, CT (Fairfield County)
    Greenwich High School
    Teacher: Aaron Hull

2010

  • Liberty for All
    Sabrina Traktorchuk
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Huntingdon Valley, PA
    Rydal East Elementary School
    Teacher: Ashley Garrett
  • I Can Speak Up, Hence I am Free
    Alexa Carter
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Fort Lee, NJ (Bergen County)
    Lewis F. Cole Middle School
    Teacher: Marianne Nugent
  • Freedom of Speech
    Laura Wojcik
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Pennsauken, NJ (Camden County)
    Bishop Eustace Preparatory School
    Teacher: Kathleen Burke-Esposito

2009

  • Freedom of the Press
    Andrew Fixler
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Weston, MA (Middlesex County
    Weston High School
    Teacher: Don Benson
  • Why Freedom Matters in My Life
    Dylan Bresnan
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    New York, NY (New York County)
    Trevor Day School
    Teacher: Liz Fishman
  • Speaking Out and Speaking Freely
    Hunter James
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Newtown, CT (Fairfield County)
    Reed Intermediate School
    Teacher: Valerie Pagano-Hepburn

2008

  • Freedom
    Samantha Chong
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Weehawken, New Jersey (Hudson County)
    Theodore Roosevelt School #5
    Teacher: Patricia Allegretta
  • Basic Freedom, Big Impact
    Duncan Reehl
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Milford, New Jersey (Hunterdon County)
    Holland Township
    Teacher: Sandra Ozgar
  • Freedom Is...
    Gia Montemuro
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Cinnaminson, New Jersey (Burlington County)
    Cinnaminson High School
    Teacher: Daniel Matz

2007

  • This is what FREEDOM means to me
    Leah Huebner
    Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia County)
    William H. Loesche School
    Teacher: Merle Fine
  • Freedom Must Carry On
    Santina Pescatore
    Middle School (Grades 6-8)
    Merion Station, Pennsylvania (Montgomery County)
    Waldron Mercy Academy
    Teacher: Eileen Flanagan
  • Freedom of Speech
    Alexander Sliwecki
    High School (Grades 9-12)
    Cinnaminson, New Jersey (Burlington County)
    Cinnaminson High School
    Teacher: Megan Schweitzer
To read the rules and entry requirements, click here.
 
Any views, opinions or commentary expressed by the authors of the winning essays in the American Freedom Essay Contest are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia, its affiliates, its officers, its directors, its employees, its Sponsors, and/or its agents in any manner whatsoever. The Constitutional Walking Tour does not make any guarantees, express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information contained or quoted in the reprinted essays.
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