Submitted by Cornerstone Academy of the Ozarks
On the 231st anniversary of the United States Bill of Rights ratification, Cornerstone Academy of the Ozarks is proud to announce that brothers Ben and Seth Spencer are runners up in the Herzog Foundation’s Bill of Rights Essay Contest in the middle school and high school categories respectively. Ben and Seth were among over 150 students who participated in the nationwide writing contest.
“Too many young people are losing sight of the civic values that characterize American democracy,” said Herzog Foundation President Darrell Jones. “Many families and schools even shy away from celebrating our country and founding documents. This is unacceptable. At the Herzog Foundation, we want to reward the students and schools that not only recognize our fundamental American beliefs, but celebrate them as well.”
All middle school and high school students currently enrolled in Christian school were eligible to participate in the essay contest. Each runner up and their school received a $100 award from the Herzog Foundation.
“The Bill of Rights was ratified over 230 years ago and still stands as a beacon for our most fundamental rights as Americans,” said Herzog Foundation Chairman Todd Graves. “It's crucial that all young students understand the significance of this founding document.”
Essay contestants were asked to answer the following prompt in three pages or less: What made the Bill of Rights so revolutionary and unique when it was ratified? How has the Bill of Rights shaped our country?
“The spirit of Christianity has marked the United States since its beginning. The Bill of Rights was the capstone of the United States Constitution. It was built upon the Biblical concept of protecting the rights that God has given every individual,” said Middle School Runner Up Ben Spencer.
“The story of freedom does not end with the present. The story must continue. America has always been just one generation away from tyrannical rule. America has always been threatened with tyranny. Every up-and-coming generation must have a desire and a passion to keep the American dream alive and the heart of freedom beating,” said High School Runner Up Seth Spencer.
Seth, 15, and Ben, 11, are the sons of Scott and Rebecka Spencer of Edwards. They are both the grandsons of Randy and Darla Smith of Edwards and Brad and Deanna Spencer of Warsaw.
About the Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation: The Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to catalyzing and accelerating the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education so that families and culture flourish.
Learn more at HerzogFoundation.com.
