LOCAL STUDENTS HONORED IN SDCBA'S 2003 POSTER AND ESSAY CONTEST

SAN DIEGO, CA, March 24, 2003 -- The San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) and the Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) recently sponsored the Law Week 2003 poster and essay contest in honor of National Law Week, April 26 through May 2. Students from all parts of San Diego participated in the community-related activities and addressed this years theme, "Law in Society: Creating a Better Community."

Among the talented array of student contestants in the Level I Poster Contest (grades K-3) Allison Bumatay, a second grader at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Chula Vista, received first place. She won a $100 savings bond for her poster illustrating her four ideas of how to create a better community, including, "No Drugs, Be Safe, Don't Graffiti, and Recycle."
Adina Sinasohn, a third grader at the Chabad Hebrew Academy in Scripps Ranch took second place for her poster illustrating her own creative slogan, "It's never a draw when you follow the law." She won a savings bond of $75. Dean Aharoni, another third grader from the Chabad Hebrew Academy in Scripps Ranch, won third place and a $50 savings bond for his poster of a diverse community, titled "We The People…All Under One Law."

In the Level II poster category (grades 4-6), Jordan Harris, a fourth grader from Rhodes School in Encinitas was awarded first place and a $100 savings bond for his poster of his own three rules to create a better community. "Do not damage others property, do not steal, and be kind to others" were his three rules, each with its own detailed illustration.

The second place award was given to Ethan Baloy, a sixth grader from Covenant Christian School in Chula Vista for his poster illustrating the importance of our community's wild life. The third place winner was Melissa Paula Robledo, another sixth grader from Covenant Christian School, who used magazine cut-outs to create a unique collage describing her idea of a "better community."

Josh Peuker, a seventh grader from North County Christian School in Escondido, won the first place prize of a $400 savings bond in the essay contest for grades 6-8 for his entry describing how chaotic the world would be without the law, titled "Freedom and Protection."

The second place award of a $300 savings bond was given to Alyx Earl, an eighth grader at Meadowbrook Middle School in Poway for his essay titled "Laws in Society and Community." Sixth grader Timothy-Ruben Daley of Meridian Christian Elementary School in El Cajon won third place and a $200 savings bond for his essay defining the law in society. In the essay contest for grades 9-12, Katie Euphrat, a tenth grader from Scripps Ranch High School won first place and a $400 savings bond for her essay describing how the law has been taken for granted and why it is important to start appreciating the law in order to build a better community. Her winning essay is titled, "The Unappreciated Ideals Behind the Law."

Second place and a $300 savings bond was awarded to tenth grader Alyson Segawa of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace for her essay on the Freedoms of America. The third place winner was eleventh grader Nicole Caya of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. She received a $200 savings bond for her essay describing her creative ideas of creating a better community.

These talented and accomplished students will join the winners of the high school oratorical contest and the SDCBA Service Award recipients at the Law Day Luncheon, Friday, May 2 at the SDCBA Bar Center. The poster and essay contests are an integral part of a week of events celebrating the legal system and its contributions to our society. For more information and a complete schedule of Law Week activities, contact the SDCBA at (619) 231-0781 or LRIS at (619) 231-8585.