Congratulations to Bishop O’Connell freshman Paloma Davis, who was named the High School Winner of the Herzog Foundation’s fourth annual Bill of Rights Essay Contest.
The 2025 contest was open to middle and high school students enrolled in a Christian school or homeschool and drew over 600 submissions from students in 36 states. Students responded to the prompt: “What made the Bill of Rights revolutionary and unique at the time of its ratification? How has it shaped the United States and its citizens over the years?“
“The Bill of Rights has been a cornerstone of American liberty for over 230 years, serving as a vital framework for our rights and freedoms,” said Herzog Foundation Chairman Todd Graves. “As we approach the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026, it’s more important than ever that young Americans grasp the historical significance and ongoing relevance of our foundational documents.”
Paloma's essay included this: “The Bill of Rights was more than a response to tyranny; it marked a turning point in the global understanding of governance. While many nations clung to systems that silenced dissent and concentrated authority, the United States chose a path that placed the individual at the center of its political identity. Ten concise amendments reshaped what it meant to be governed, not as subjects beneath a crown but as citizens with voices, rights, and protections. Their influence spread outward like ink across parchment, its glow enduring centuries and urging monarchies and authoritarian regimes to reconsider the role of the people.”
The winner in each age group received a $300 award. Their schools will also receive a $300 award.
This was Paloma’s second year entering the contest. Last year, as an 8th grader at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in Falls Church, she entered the contest on the encouragement of her teacher, and was named a runner-up in the middle school competition. Paloma says she enjoys researching history and facts, so she considered it a nice challenge to enter the contest again.