The Upper Moreland Township School District recently shared that judges awarded Mrs. Gilman’s 5th-grade class third place and $500 at The Rendell Center’s annual essay competition.

The award is intended to enhance civics education at the Intermediate School.

A joint essay written by two students from Mrs. Gilman’s class was selected as a finalist.

The Center’s competition is open to 4th & 5th-grade students enrolled in public, private, parochial school, or home study programs across the state. This year, over 250 essay applications were submitted.

The topic of this year’s essay was the First Amendment and its importance to Americans. Students were asked to indicate which freedom they believe was most important and why.

Mrs. Gilman’s class and eleven other schools were invited to present their essays as finalists on Thursday, January 18 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

According to the District, Mrs. Gilman’s class “presented their essay through an interactive commercial and answered questions about the First Amendment from the panel of judges.” Then the class toured the Constitution Center Museum and viewed an interactive theater production about the history of the United States.

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Photos: UMTSD