Constitutional Essay Award Ceremony
CSD#1 School Board Meeting 9 May 2023: 7:00 PM
Press Release: The American Legion Corvallis Post 91 and CSD#1 Recognize Student Accomplishments
A unique ceremony was held at the Corvallis School District Board meeting this past Tuesday evening, 9 May. Fifteen students from the Corvallis High School who were selected earlier this year by Mr. Phil Leonardi, their teacher for AP Government, to participate in the Americanism and Constitutional Essay competition, sponsored by The American Legion Corvallis Post 91. They were all recognized that evening with awards of Certificates of Participation for their work in writing their essays. Seven were able to attend and personally receive their awards.
The 15 students in the competition who were awarded Certificates included: Brandon Jessop, Bryce Cooper, Caitrin Allred, Clay Truth , Donovan Houser, Gavin Marston, Haylee Hoagland, Mackenzie Gross, Melania Wissenbach, Nathaniel Davis, Nicholas Wilson, SuSanna Palacios, Trinity Shippy , Tyler Weis and Violet Wissenbach.
Donovan Houser was the first place winner of the Post 91 competition. His award was a Medal and a Certificate of Recognition that were accepted by his mother and sister because he had another commitment. His essay was entered into a statewide American Legion Department of Montana competition where Donovan won second place from among all the other statewide entrants.
Officiating at the ceremony were Harris Himes, Commander of Post 91, Cammie Knapp, Principal of Corvallis High School, and Marc Sabin, Post 91 School Programs Coordinator.
The purpose of the annual competition is to provide “students [with] an opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities by using originality, accuracy and research as evidence, while learning [about] the Constitution of the United States of America.”
Mr. Leonardi developed the constitutional topic for this year’s competitors to address in their essays. He asked the students to write the essay from the perspective of an attorney seeking to persuade the court of the correctness of their client’s case in a matter involving conflict between the rights of an individual student and the responsibility of a high school administration to provide a proper learning environment for the entire school.
Mr. Leonardi was not able to attend, but Principal Knapp stood in for him in presenting the awards to the students. She also accepted an award for Mr. Leonardi from Post 91 for “exceptional leadership and skill in organizing and conducting the Constitutional Essay and Americanism and Government Test Competitions for CHS students” in 2023.
