Nov. 16, 2018 - On Thursday, Taina Garcia, junior at Paxon School for Advanced Studies, was awarded with a certificate, pocket constitution and $1,000 check for her exceptional essay outlining the Fourteenth Amendment's impact on her life.
Garcia's family is very proud of their daughter for winning second place out of participants across seven counties and 22 high schools.
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Fourteenth Amendment's ratification, lawyers and judges of the Middle District Bench Bar Fund held an essay contest for students to expand upon the interpretation and impact of "Equal Protection of the Laws."
Garcia wrote about the amendment giving herself and her family equal educational opportunities regardless of race, language or residential address.
"My family as a whole has always pushed me to do my best," said Garcia. "They've always made a lot of sacrifices, so I hope I made them proud today."
Garcia's parents were among the guests in the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse courtroom as United States District Court Judges the Honorable Marcia Morales Howard and the Honorable Brian J. Davis presented Garcia with a certificate and $1,000 check for her achievement.