STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS 2019-2020!
1st PLACE
Jacob Nelson 
Grade 12
DC Everest High School
Jacob Nelson is a 2020 graduate of DC Everest High School. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison, pursuing his interests in economics and computer science. He loved learning about history in high school and his interest was cemented by his participation in the National History Day contest in DC. His paper about the Yihetuan uprising in China helped him develop the skills he used to write his first-place winning essay on Alexander Hamilton.
Recommending Teacher: Glenn Olstad
2nd PLACE
Aaron O’Halloran 
Grade 12
Oshkosh West High School
Aaron O’Halloran is a 2020 graduate of Oshkosh West High School, where he participated in choir, musical, mock trial, cross country, and track. He especially enjoyed earning two trips to state with his mock trial team and participating in the “We the People” state finals his junior year. Aaron earned Ripon College’s Woolley History Scholarship and will study history and political science this fall. In his spare time he likes to read, run, listen to music, and visit historical sites.
Recommending Teacher: Paul Stellpflulg
3rd PLACE
Jack Stuart 
Grade 11
Wauwatosa East High School
Jack Stuart is completing his junior year at Wauwatosa East High School. He is a member of the “We the People” team, and enjoys playing soccer, hiking, and reading in his free time. After high school he would like to attend college to study computer science.
Recommending Teacher: Daniel McHugh
Topic: Alexander Hamilton
Rules and Regulations
Effective date: October 2, 2019 at 12:01 am CST
Deadline: March 2, 2020 at 11:59 pm CST
Section I: General rules
Between October 2, 2019 at 12:01 am CST and March 2, 2020 at 11:59 pm CST (the “Contest Period”) the Center for the Study of the American Constitution will conduct an essay contest in the state of Wisconsin for students enrolled in grades 9 to 12 focusing on the topic of Alexander Hamilton’s vision for America. Students who wish to compete must meet the eligibility requirements (section II) and follow the submission guidelines (section III).
Entries in .pdf or .doc format must be sent in via email to csacessaycontest@history.wisc.edu by 11:59 p.m. CST on March 2, 2020 (Monday) along with a completed copyright permission and release form (section VI).
Section II: Eligibility criteria
This contest is open to only residents of Wisconsin who are in grades 9 to 12, attending public, private, religious, or charter schools, or are enrolled in a GED or correspondence school program, or are attending a home school program.
Essays must be original and created by an individual student. Only one entry is allowed for each student.
Student must have a faculty member (no pre-service teachers) recommend the student.
One teacher can only recommend a maximum of 5 students from their school.
All students who enter the competition must complete a permission and release form (Section VI) and include the form with their essay at the time of submission. Students under the age 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the permission and release form.
Section III: Essay submission guidelines
Essay must include a cover page with student’s name, student’s email address, name and mailing address of school, student’s grade level, and recommending teacher’s name, email, department, and signature.
Essay must be between 500-1000 words–not including name, title, and citations.
Essay must be written in Times New Roman font, size 12, and be double spaced. Margins must be 1” top, bottom, and sides.
Essay must be written in English.
Essay must include primary source quotations (with citations).
Chicago style citations preferable.
Essay must be submitted online in .pdf or .doc format to csacessaycontest@history.wisc.edu by 11:59 p.m. CST on March 2, 2020 (Monday).
Only final submissions will be considered–no consideration will be given to rough drafts/ proposals/ clarifications.
Failure to comply with these rules will lead to essay being disqualified from the contest.
Section IV: Judging and announcement
Entries will be judged based on originality, clarity, writing style, factual accuracy, depth of analysis, and quality of reference work and citation. Essays should focus on and analyze a particular Founder’s views on the critical issues of their generation, including:
- the reasons for and struggles during the American Revolution
- the consequences of independence
- the cultivation and preservation of a republican form of government
- the difficulties of constitution-making at the state and national levels
- the creation of an American citizenry
- and the future greatness of America.
For the 2019-2020 essay contest, students must write about Alexander Hamilton and his vision for America – his thoughts on the critical issues of his generation as outlined above.
Plagiarized content will be disqualified based on the sole discretion of the judges selected by the Center for the Study of the American Constitution. By submitting an entry in this contest, the contestants agree to abide by the rules and guidelines laid out in this document. All decisions made by the organizers and judges regarding this contest will be final and binding on the contestants.
Notification of Winning Entry:
The student winners of the competition will be notified by email no later than the second week of April 2020. The student’s school will also be notified by email no later than the second week of April 2020.
Section V: Awards
The prizes for winning essays are as follows:
Winner: One winning student will receive $2,000. The student’s school will also receive $2,000 and the student’s recommending teacher will receive portfolios of printed broadsides and ratification maps.
First runner up: One student will receive $1,000. The student’s school will also receive $1,000 and the student’s recommending teacher will receive portfolios of printed broadsides and ratification maps.
Second runner up: One student will receive $500. The student’s school will also receive $500 and the student’s recommending teacher will receive portfolios of printed broadsides and ratification maps.
The winning essays will be posted on the Center for the Study of the American Constitution’s website.
Section VI: Release and Copyright Permission Agreement
All submitted entries should be accompanied by a properly filled-up and signed copy of the “Release and Copyright Permission Agreement,” which is on page 3 of the document available for download at the link below.
Download Release & Copyright Permission Agreement