Pictured, from left: CSAS teacher Ben Schulz, Student Essay Winner Andrew McDonough, and League President Teresa Garland
Two Hamilton County high school students were each the recipients of a $500 scholarship win for their essay entries offered by the League of Women Voters of Chattanooga.
The League, which registers, educates and promotes voting for a healthy democracy, presented this essay theme to Hamilton county high school seniors' government teachers.
Andrew McDonough of CSAS and an additional essay entry winner from Sale Creek High, tied for first place, having submitted outstanding essays on how voting can have an influence and affect a young person's future.
The League chose three members with extensive backgrounds in education to judge the essay entries, "How Voting Impacts Our Future." It was a blind review; the judges not knowing who or from which schools the entries came. "We were hoping that presenting this concept would help students connect the dots and promote an understanding that their engagement in the practice of voting in a democracy matters," said President of the League Teresa Garland. "We appreciated all of the entries we received."
League Certificates of Appreciation were also presented to each student’s teacher in appreciation of their dedication to education.
Students’ essays stressed their generation's importance and the impact of their vote, that their future and the fate of democracy was an obligation in their hands, and that voting was the most American thing.
"League congratulations to these high school winning seniors and their appreciation of the meaning of voter participation in America's elections," officials said.