Written by Don Byrd
Every year, the Baptist Joint Committee’s Religious Liberty Council sponsors an essay contest for high school juniors and seniors on a religious liberty topic. This year’s topic was “whether or not religious messages, such as Bible verses on ‘run-through’ banners at football games, should be permitted at public school-sponsored events.”
More than 600 entrants later, the winner of the grand prize – $2,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. to read his essay at the October board meeting – was Ellicott City, Maryland’s Daniel Ingham. Today, the Baltimore Sun profiled Daniel, who just started school at Providence College, and his winning essay. Here is an excerpt from the article:
“I wasn’t really aware of the issue before,” Ingham said, though he quickly became hooked as the current event had him delving into old court cases and the principles that built America. “I did a lot of research and read up about the issue.”
…
“By the end of it, it was not just about the scholarship opportunity,” Ingham said of his paper. “I felt good about it, well-informed and really proud of it. I could stand by it.”
Congratulations Daniel!
Do you know a high school junior or senior who could use some scholarship money and a chance to travel to the nation’s Capital? Next year’s contest topic will be announced soon. In the meantime read the essays of previous scholarship winners here.
