By VICTOR J. CONTI
SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS
MONTVALE—Excitement filled the halls of Fieldstone Middle School as eighth-grader Samantha Wainhause returned from an awards ceremony hosted by Park Ridge Elks Lodge #2234.
Samantha, an enthusiastic and dedicated student, secured second place nationally in the prestigious Elks Lodge Americanism Essay Contest. This annual contest invites students from across the country to reflect on and write about what it means to be an American.
Samantha’s essay stood out among thousands of submissions to win best essay in the state of New Jersey. Her essay was forwarded to the national competition where it faced off against all other first place state winners and was ultimately selected as second best essay in the country.
In the essay, Samantha eloquently describes how the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights are often forgotten or taken for granted by herself and her peers. Her essay continues by making the realization that not having to constantly think about or question our rights is itself a privilege.
“Writing this essay, I realized how fortunate we are to live in a country where we have the privilege to take a historic document with profound significance for granted.” Samantha said. “I was pushed to think deeper into the underlying liberties of this country and have a newfound gratitude for the foundation on which it was built: The Bill of Rights!”
The Elks Lodge Americanism Essay Contest is a tradition that aims to foster patriotism and civic responsibility among young people. This year’s theme, What the Bill of Rights Means to Me, encouraged students to explore and express their thoughts on the rights guaranteed in the first ten amendments of the Constitution.
As Samantha’s civics teacher, I can attest to Samantha’s hard work and dedication. Samantha has always been a thoughtful and passionate writer. This recognition is well-deserved, and I’m so proud of the way Samantha has represented our school and community.
The award ceremony was attended by members of Park Ridge Elks Lodge #2234, community leaders, and Samantha and her family. Samantha received a certificate of achievement, an engraved plaque of her essay, and a monetary prize for her achievement. Samantha also delivered her speech to those in attendance, captivating the crowd with her powerful words.
Samantha’s accomplishment has not only made the school proud but has also inspired fellow students to participate in future contests and engage more deeply with their communities. As Samantha looks forward to high school, this achievement will undoubtedly be a highlight of her academic journey and a source of inspiration for years to come.
A program of the Elks’ Grand Lodge Fraternal Committee, the Americanism Essay Contest is geared toward students grades 5–8 to promote patriotism among young people.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America explains that at the time of the contest eligible participants must be students enrolled in one of these four divisions: I—5th grade; II—6th grade; III—7th grade; or IV—8th grade.
Essays are not to exceed 300 words.
Plaques are awarded by the Grand Lodge for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place for national winning essays in Divisions I, II, III, and IV. Monetary awards will be disbursed for each grade level for 1st Place—$1,000; 2nd Place—$500; and 3rd Place—$250. Winners are announced at the Grand Lodge Session.
— Victor J. Conti teaches seventh-grade social studies
and is seventh-grade team leader and soccer and softball coach.
Samantha’s essay:
What Does the Bill of Rights Mean to Me?
The Bill of Rights means nothing to me—and that is why it means everything. For most teenagers, including myself, the Bill of Rights is simply a topic grazed over in U.S. History. But it is so much more than that. It is the liberties that I take for granted every single day, liberties rooted so deeply into the fabric of American life that many others take them for granted, too. Though we may not exercise all our liberties day-to-day, they are incessant—it is in their absence that we would be able to comprehend the significance of the Bill of Rights and the drastic effects it has on our lives.
The First Amendment, allowing me to voice my diverse opinions; the Fourth, protecting my right to close the doors around me; or the Seventh, protecting my innocence. Any of the first Ten Amendments may sit unrecognized right under our noses, but it is only proof of our Founding Fathers’ success at creating a country where liberties are the oxygen of American lungs—underlying and constant.
The Bill of Rights is not only the foundation of the country in which I live, but the roots that brought me here in the first place. I had never before questioned why my grandparents had brought my mother from Korea to America at a young age. Why America? It was for the reasons so many flood to this country: to take refuge in freedom and liberty. They had given her the same luxury that I now have: to take the Bill of Rights for granted.
Ask most teenagers, and their response will be the same: The Bill of Rights means nothing to me.
However, to live in a country where we do not need to question our basic human rights, means everything.
Samantha Wainhause