In commemoration of Law Day, the Courts, Community and Rule of Law Committee of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals hosted an essay contest for 5th and 6th-grade students within the Third Circuit, which is comprised of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The contest was spearheaded locally by the District Court of the Virgin Islands.
The Third Circuit Committee and each district within the circuit partnered with bar associations, civic organizations and educational institutions across the geographical reach of the Third Circuit to promote and oversee the essay contest. Fifth and sixth-grade classes were invited to submit an essay entitled, “Why the right to vote is important to me and to our country.”
Five schools participated in the St. Croix Division: Church of God Holiness Academy, Good Hope Country Day School, St. Mary’s Catholic School, St. Croix Christian Academy and Saint Patrick’s Catholic School. Three schools participated in the St. Thomas/St. John Division: Antilles School, Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School and St. Thomas/St. John Seventh-day Adventist School.
The essays submitted were evaluated by the district court judges for focus, content development, organization and style.
On May 5, the District Court of the Virgin Islands held a public ceremony, simultaneously, at the Almeric L. Christian Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on St. Croix, USVI, and the Ron de Lugo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on St. Thomas, USVI, where students from each participating school presented their respective class essays.
The Honorable Robert A. Molloy, the chief judge, remarked on the excellent quality of the submissions and the proficient oratory skills of the presenters. He then announced the following winners: Myra Penn-Gumbs’ 5th-grade class at the Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School on St. Thomas earned first place; Jessica Francisco’s 6th-grade Section 2 class at the Antilles School on St. Thomas achieved second place; and Doreen Davis’ and Marcella Combie’s 6th-grade class at the Church of God Holiness Academy on St. Croix was awarded third place.
All essay submissions were outstanding and reflected the great amount of time, thought and effort that students and teachers dedicated to this contest.
The District Court of the Virgin Islands extends sincere thanks to the participating students and teachers; the Courts, Community and Rule of Law Committee of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; the Courts and Community Committee of the District Court of the Virgin Islands; and participating lawyers from the Virgin Islands legal community.
