JHS Students Finalists in IA State Bar Association Competition

(Submitted by the Iowa State Bar Association)

Johnston High School seniors Joseph Haggerty, Jack Lucas, and Taylor Morris have been named finalists in The Iowa State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division “Know Your Constitution” Project.  One hundred finalists were selected from the more than 1,000 students across the State of Iowa who participated in the “Know Your Constitution” Project.  These finalists will be honored at a luncheon held at the Holiday Inn Hotel Northwest Des Moines on January 12, 2018.  The luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m.  This year’s Keynote Speaker is the Honorable Justice Bruce Zager of the Iowa Supreme Court.

From the finalists, five students and their teachers will be chosen by a random drawing to attend the all expense paid, Close-Up Foundation’s five-day long education work session in Washington, D.C., in February 2018.  The work sessions are organized to develop a deeper understanding of government and the political process.

The “Know Your Constitution” Project is designed to enrich students’ understanding and appreciation of the Constitution.  The students participating in the project were required to familiarize themselves with Constitution related issues.  A quiz was completed by each participating student.  An essay question accompanied the quiz in case of a tie.  This year’s essay topic involved Constitutional questions centered on a fictitious school district policy regarding student observance of the National Anthem at school events. The JHS seniors participated in the project as part of teacher Sarah Hottle’s American government class.

Prior to the luncheon on January 12, the student finalists will have the opportunity to hear from and interact with a constitutional expert to discuss the essay topic and recent developments and rulings.

This program is sponsored by The Iowa State Bar Association, with additional funding from the Iowa State Bar Foundation and many of the county Bar Associations across Iowa. Congratulations to these three JHS students on their outstanding essays!

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