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National Constitution Center Hosts Awards Ceremony For Student Essay And Playwriting Contest

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The National Constitution Center gave out prizes Thursday to the winners of a new student essay contest it's started.

"These freedoms are so important."

The Constitution Center invited students in 6th, 8th and 12th grade to write an essay or a play about the country's founding freedoms.

"In a way these documents are more relevant today than when they are written."

Sixth grade winner Maeve Pinaro wrote about the delicate issue of protecting hate speech.

Twelfth grade winner Angela Bey wrote a play about the Constitutional Convention.

"There's a lot of great material to write something dramatic because the whole creation of the Constitution was a dramatic event," said Bey.

 

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Jeffrey Rosen with 12th grade winner Angela Bey and her mother. (credit: Pat Loeb/KYW)

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The contest carried prizes of $1,000 to $2,500, thanks to a three-year, $5 million grant from the Templeton Foundation. The Center's President Jeffrey Rosen says Templeton is a big believer in essay contests.

"By inviting students to engage with the founding documents, to think about the relationship between them, that's the best of getting students to love history," said Rosen.

Eighth grader Andy Van Pham agrees.

"It helps kids comprehend the concept of the constitution better than just reading a book," said Van Pham.

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