CHS, OHS Students Are 1st, 3rd in State Bar Essay Contest

Modrall Sperling President Walter E. Stern III and first place winner Micaela de la Rosa. Photo courtesy of State Bar Editor Dorma Seago.

LAS CRUCES – Centennial High School student Micaela de la Rosa took first place in the 2013 State Bar High School Essay Contest, sponsored by the State Bar of New Mexico. Ronald Davis III of Oñate High School was third.

The contest was held earlier this year. Micaela received a cash award of $1,000. Ronald received a cash award of $500. Micaela’s teacher and coach, Joel Hutchinson, received a $500 teacher award. Ronald’s teacher/coach is Anne Foltz.

The topic of this year’s essay was “Passwords, please, which deals with one’s constitutional rights in regard to employment hiring practices and social media,” said State Bar Editor Dorma Seago. The essay contest “is intended to foster an appreciation of the law and provide a practical legal writing experience,” she said.

This year’s contest had 186 entries from 17 schools across the state, said Seago. The Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk law firm has sponsored the contest since it began in 1997.

“A student of Joel Hutchinson once again won the contest after an unprecedented win in all three places last year,” said Seago. (Oñate High School students took first-, second- and third place in the 2012 contest. Hutchinson moved to Centennial High School this year.)

“We are proud of our contest in the way it challenges students to think critically and organize their thoughts into a convincing argument. We are also very strict in requiring that all directions are followed, and we disqualify those entries that fail to do so. Again, we feel that this is a challenge to students and teaches a skill, or habit, that will serve them well in the future. The Modrall Sperling Law Firm has been so faithful and generous in sponsoring the contest since 1997. We couldn’t do it without them. Judges agreed that Micaela de la Rosa’s essay is one of the best they have seen in its writing style, arguments, and organization. She is a superb writer, and I expect to hear more about her continued achievements in the future,” said Seago.

Left to right are 2013 State Bar Essay Contest winners Ruaidhri (Rory) Crofton of West Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, N.M., second place; Ronald Davis III, Oñate High School, third place; Micaela de la Rosa, Centennial High School, first place; Modrall law firm President Walter E. Stern III; and Centennial High School teacher Joel Hutchinson.

Modrall law firm President Walter E. Stern III; and Centennial High School teacher Joel Hutchinson.

Ronald Davis III of Oñate High School.

The winners and their guests attended the annual Law Day Luncheon May 1 in Albuquerque, where they were recognized by members of the legal community. At the lunch, Walter E. Stern III, president of the Modrall Law Firm, presented Micaela, Ronald and Hutchinson with their awards. The Law Day Luncheon is held annually as part of Law Day observances, said Seago. The winning students’ photos, biographies and essays will be published in the State Bar’s Bar Bulletin, and have been posted on the state bar website: www.nmbar.org/public/hsessay.html, she said.

For more information, contact Seago at 505.797.6030 or dseago@nmbar.org.

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