FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Contact: Secretary of State 207-626-8406

Secretary Bellows announces winners of 2021 Maine Constitution Essay and Poster Contest

AUGUSTA – Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has announced the winners of the 2021 Maine Constitution Essay and Poster Contest.

The annual contest allows Maine students from grades K through 12 to participate, with older students submitting essays regarding the Maine Constitution, voting and democracy; and younger students creating posters reflecting Maine history or symbols.

“The essay and poster contest is a great opportunity for students to engage in learning about Maine’s Constitution, history and symbols,” said Secretary Bellows. “Civic education is critical to preparing students to participate in our democracy. We congratulate the winners and thank all the amazing teachers and students who participated. It is our hope that the contests help make learning fun and provide students with a greater appreciation for the great State of Maine.”

The essay contest is for students in middle school and high school. It is divided into two categories:

The theme for grades 6-8 is “The Maine Constitution.” Declan Wotton, a sixth-grade student in Kevin Cullen’s class at St. Michael School in Augusta, received top honors in this category for his essay, which reviews the Constitutional process for removal of a county sheriff from office.

The theme for grades 9-12 is “The Importance of Voting and Democracy.” Olga Baciu, an 11th-grade student in William Prest’s class at Highview Christian Academy in Charleston, took first place in this category for her essay entitled “Making a Difference,” which reviews the history of voting rights and contemplates options to increase voter participation.

The poster contest, open to students from kindergarten to grade 5, is broken into two categories, with a theme of “Maine Symbols” for grades K-3 and “Maine History” for grades 4-5.

Sophia Hall, a first-grade student in Lisa Logston’s class at Forest Hills Consolidated School in Jackman, received top honors for her Maine symbols poster, which features a picnic spot along a river in the woods of Maine, with the State cat, pine tree and some official foods.

Evelyn Simons, a fourth-grade student in Patricia Murray’s class at Cape Cod Hill Elementary School in New Sharon, received top honors for her Maine history poster “Wabanaki Gardens,” which depicts an ear of corn and several beans and seeds sown by the natives.

Secretary Bellows thanks all the teachers and students who participated and the legislators who took the time to thoughtfully judge the submitted posters and essays. To learn more about the Maine Constitution Essay and Poster Contest and view winning entries from this year’s contest and past contests, visit the Secretary of State’s website.