Sanders Announces Winners of State of the Union Essay Contest

Monday, February 4, 2019

Excerpt:

BURLINGTON, Vt., Feb. 4 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Monday announced the winners of his ninth annual State of the Union essay contest, which gives Vermont high school students an opportunity to describe which issues they would prioritize if they were president.

This year, 590 students from 50 Vermont high schools submitted 250-500 word essays on issues that included climate change, gun safety, substance use, immigration, political polarization, higher education and more. A panel of six Vermont teachers served as volunteer judges, scoring the essays and choosing the 20 finalists and three winners.

“I’m thrilled students from 50 schools from across Vermont participated in this year’s essay contest,” said Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee. “We need our students to help find solutions for the problems that face our country. This is just one small way to engage them in that process. That’s what democracy is all about.”

Sanders has invited the 20 finalists and their families to join him for a roundtable discussion at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Saturday, February 16. Sanders will also enter the essays of the finalists into the Congressional Record -- the official archive of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Since Sanders began the State of the Union essay contest, thousands of students from schools throughout Vermont have written essays on a wide range of important issues. The contest is timed to coincide with the president’s State of the Union address, which will take place on Tuesday.

https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-winners-of-state-of-the-union-essay-contest-2019