The third annual high school essay contest of the League of Women Voters-Jefferson County is in the books. This season brought higher award amounts for the first, second and third place winners and $10 cash for all students who submitted entries.

"The essays were incredible — they really poured their hearts out," said Mado Most, one of six people on the League's Essay Team. Turbulence in the world at large filtered through the work. "The kids are really going through something" she said.

"These essays were heartfelt," agreed Karen Steinmous. "It was difficult to decide. Every one of them was good."

There were 96 entries in all, up from 60 last year and 12 the first year. All three area high schools participated in the contest, which ran from March 1 to March 31. The results were announced April 30. 

Claire Porter of Port Townsend High School won first place and $500 with her essay “School Lunches” on the harm to the community, the farms, and the quality, availability, and nutrition of PTHS lunches caused by the USDA Farm-to-Lunch program cuts.

Livia Lee, also from PTHS, won second place and $300 with an essay titled “Living with Uncertainty in an Ever-Changing Immigration System,” which tied her family’s immigration story to the current news on changing immigration policies.

Calliope Mosher of Chimacum High School, last year’s second place winner, this year took third and $150 with her essay on federal policies that target transgender people and immigrants.

The contest was open to all East Jefferson County high school and home-schooled students. The question was: “Why is the outcome of the November 2024 election important? Make an argument for how the results of that election are affecting your daily life and give specific examples.”

The question was meant to encourage students to ponder the role of voting in a democracy and what it means to participate in an election. In Washington state, a person may sign up to register to vote if they are 16 or 17 years old, part of the future voter program.

The judging criteria were posted on the LWVJC website, and the essays were judged by a blind panel to ensure that the judges did not know the names or affiliations of the students. The panel consisted of Most, Steinmaus, Jackie Aase, Gwen Demombynes, Connie King and Ann Weston.

The judges also credited teachers and educators who incorporated the contest into instruction, including teachers Virginia Grace at PTHS, Brian MacKenzie at Chimacum, and Sean Moss, principal at Quilcene High School.

The judges commended the students for sending in so many excellent submissions, making this year’s judging particularly difficult. The press release issued with the announcment referred this year's entries as "heartbreaking, refreshing, moving, and thought-provoking," and a demonstration that area high schoolers in Jefferson County are paying attention.