Three Middle School Students Win Essay Contest

Three Pine-Richland Middle School students swept the awards in the annual Commonwealth Freedom Award Essay Contest.

Laila Ohlund won first place; Christine Dawson earned second and Julia Herrle placed third.

Commonwealth Education Organization, a non-profit organization in Allegheny County, invited local eighth-grade students to participate in its annual essay contest. It is open to students in public, private and parochial schools as well as home-schooled children.

"The goal of this essay contest is to encourage students to learn more about America’s history and government while strengthening their respect for and pride in our country," according to the organization's website.

The essay topics change each year. Here is this year's challenge:

The Founding Fathers created the Bill of Rights, which are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. 

Your assignment for this essay will be to read the 10th amendment. Using the Federalists Papers and the Constitution, explain why the founders were concerned about the distinction between state and federal rights. 

Cite specifics of the 10th amendment and explain what the 10th amendment means.  A number of people today are concerned that the federal government has overstepped their authority. 

Select an issue today and explain within the context of the 10th amendment if there has been an overreach by the federal government on states' rights.  Please be very specific with your examples.