Photo: Isabella Castro-Cardona (left) and family attend an awards ceremony at the U.S. Courthouse in Tampa.
An 11th grade student from Southeast High School was recently honored by lawyers and judges of the United States District Court (Middle District of Florida), along with the Federal Bar Association (Tampa Bay Chapter).
Out of 700 submissions, Isabella Castro-Cardona, an IB student, earned sixth place in the U.S. District Court High School Essay Contest.
She was invited to join all winners at an awards ceremony in Courtroom 14B of the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse in Tampa.
Students were asked to write about their personal experiences with regard to technology and First Amendment protections as public-school students.
Sara Bizek, English Language Arts Instructional Leader from Southeast High School, is proud of her student's determination and grit.
She attended the awards ceremony on December 16, 2024.
"Isabella is an absolute powerhouse and made her ambitions of becoming a lawyer clear in our first week of class together," said Ms. Bizek. "I'm confident she's off to great places and loved watching her get an insider glimpse into our judicial system."
Isabella Castro-Cardona brought home a $250 award, a framed certificate, and a gift bag.