By Jakob Franco
Co-editor | The Pacific Times
The Evening’s Program
A group of students from NP3 were recognized at Operation Protect and Defend’s annual Law Day dinner as part of the essay contest.
Operation Protect and Defend is an initiative which began in 2001 for Sacramento area students to engage with the law through interactions with legal professionals. Protect and Defend reaches more than a dozen schools within Sacramento providing each participating classroom with one judge and attorney to visit classrooms then lead a discussion about the year’s curriculum.
This year, the curriculum commemorated the 150th anniversary of the 14th amendment as well as the evolving role of the Voting Rights Act in modern American society. The judge and attorney also open themselves up to any student questions about their professions or opinions on the subject matter.
Each senior taking an economics or government class participated in the program which included a mandatory essay contest which gave students opportunity to voice their own opinion about the curriculum. Students submitted their essays in early March and award winners were notified in April.
Mikayla Penman, Jakob Franco and Isabel Penman, pose together following the event.
NP3 had five award winners: Fionna Chuang, Nneamaka Unanwa, Isabel Penman, Mikayla Penman and Jakob Franco. The award ceremony for the essay contest as well as an additional art contest took place as part of the Law Day Dinner’s festivities at the Golden One Center on May 1.
Each student had their name announced and walked on stage to receive a certificate of recognition as well as cash prize associated with their awards.
Chief Justice of the California Tani Cantil-Sakauye was the keynote speaker offering her perspective about the need for greater education about the judicial system. She also offered many anecdotes from her personal experiences rising through its ranks.
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