Emma Stein, right, and Yonit Slater of King Lab School, stand with Emma’s first-prize sculpture, which she described as a column composed of the five freedoms of the First Amendment, upon which democracy stands. Yonit said her second-place video demonstrates how aspects of the First Amendment, particularly the freedoms of religion and speech, allow her to express her creativity.

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Nearly 70 middle-school students were honored at a reception on Jan. 25 for their winning entries in the 2012 Constitution Contest, sponsored by School District 65 and the League of Women Voters of Evanston.  Each year, as eighth-graders study for their Constitution test, this voluntary contest helps bring home the Bill of Rights and its guarantees of freedom. 

Students may expound on their chosen amendment in one of several ways – the written word, performance art, video or visual art. While in past years, the First Amendment has been a favorite, the Fourth Amendment received more attention this year, said Michelle Jordan of the League of Women Voters who, with District 65’s Jamilla Pitts, coordinated the contest again this year.

All of this year’s 67 winners and honorable-mentions came from either Nichols or King Lab schools.