Wendy Aguilar and Lexis Nolen of Kiefer High School and Junior High won first place in the recent statewide Law Day art and writing contests sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Aguilar won the eighth-grade art contest for her art piece that incorporated a poem. Nolen won the eighth-grade writing contest for her poem about citizenship and freedom. Both students were recognized during a ceremony at the Oklahoma state Capitol where they received their awards from Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Douglas Combs.
Also from Kiefer High School and Junior High, Hanna Zapada placed second in the 12th-grade writing contest for her poem. Six other Kiefer High School and Junior High students earned honorable mentions for their entries – Devan Bryce Choate, Kourtney Davis, Darian Doctor, Ranger Alexander Long, Lorena Luey and Payton Sharbutt.
More than 900 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th entered this year’s Law Day Contest, themed “The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy.”
“This year’s theme gave students an opportunity to explore one of our most important amendments since the Bill of Rights,” said OBA President Linda Thomas. “The 14th Amendment is our most cited amendment and has been instrumental in defining and protecting civil rights. The students really demonstrated their understanding through their entries.”
Law Day, a nationwide event designated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, is celebrated annually with events on or around May 1 to raise public awareness of American law. The idea for Law Day was conceived by the late Hicks Epton, a Wewoka attorney and Oklahoma Bar Association past president.
As part of the Law Day celebration, Oklahoma lawyers will be available to give free legal advice on Thursday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Those in the Tulsa area may call 918-838-8770; those across the state may call 800-456-8525. Residents may also email questions to askalawyer@okbar.org. More information about Law Day is available at www.okbar.org/lawday.
Also, to celebrate Law Day, the annual Ask A Lawyer TV show will air at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, on Oklahoma’s public television station OETA. It covers adoption, bankruptcy and debt issues and the success of drug court in Oklahoma.
The 17,600-member Oklahoma Bar Association, headquartered in Oklahoma City, was created by the Oklahoma Supreme Court to advance the administration of justice and to foster and maintain learning, integrity, competence, public service and high standards of conduct among Oklahoma’s legal community.
Featured Image: Chief Justice Douglas Combs presents Wendy Aguilar and Lexis Nolen of Kiefer High School and Junior High with their first-place awards.
