This year Ohio students in 7-12 grade were invited to write a 500-1000 word essay on any of the following topics.

~ Why is a high quality education necessary for the public good?
~ What makes Ohio 's system of funding schools unconstitutional?
~ How my school is affected by Ohio's school funding problem.

The purpose of this essay contest is to provide a way for student voices to be heard in the debate about school funding in Ohio.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students whose essays won the 2005 School Funding Essay Contest. Click on the names to read the essays.

Rebecca Kapusta from Independence Middle School, grade 8
Winston Corzine from Smith Middle School, grade 8
Trisha Strous from Amanda Clearcreek High School, grade 12
Erika Bohannon from Berea High School, grade 11

Congratulations to the following students who were chosen to receive honorable mention awards:

Karian Knepper from Antwerp High School

Robert Richardson from Ridgewood High School

Paul Eging, Mike Garuccio, Rachel Hagen, Matt Houdek, Steven Piotrowski, Yanna Pitsul, Sara Schirripa, James Tarkey and Morad Zayed from Hillside Middle School

Elizabeth Johnson and Sarah Motz from Cardinal Middle School

Jimmy Harrington and Megan Knechtges from Edison High School

Annie Clark, Jacob Haines, Ginny Hall, Elizabeth Hirth, Kelsey Leifheit, Brittany Maynard, Miles McCoy, Lauren Morrow, Jonathan Owen, Meghan Plumly, Shelby Sampson, Angie Sayers and Tiffany Young from Jackson Middle School

Amanda Cassidy and Alex Hoffman from Amanda Clearcreek High School

Stevi Miller, Ian Zanni, Allen Carl and Brittany Smith from Smith Middle School

Nathan Turner from Springfield High School

Click here to read the 2004 winners.