Emily Schutte – Winner, Best Essay

Emily Schutte is a sophomore at Hillsdale College studying Rhetoric and Public Address. Home for her is the innovative state of Ohio where she grew up as the middle of seven kids. Emily grew up in a household where God, music, and family were extremely important. She developed a love for her country through the patriotism of her family and through her years competing in the American Legion’s oratorical competition. While in college, she has worked as a writer for the Collegian, the college newspaper, the college’s climbing wall, and with the radio station as a newscaster. She is involved in the Catholic Society and plays viola in the college orchestra.

After college, Emily hopes to enrich her community through involvement in local politics and by starting a family in which her children will be nurtured with the same love of God, music, family, and country she is so blessed to have.

Click here to read Emily’s Winning Essay!

Our Interview With Emily

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
This was not the first time I applied. I applied last year as well.

How did you hear about the contest?
I was searching for scholarships related to Americanism since it is a topic about which I am passionate.

What inspired your work?
My work was inspired by my love of this country and the values of her founding.

What did you learn while creating your entry?
I learned that it is important to exercise rights as a citizen of this country or else I may lose them.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
I plan to spread the word through conversations with friends and by example through engaging in the political system through voting, especially in this presidential election year.

How do your friends respond to history or talking about the Constitution?
My friends are all fairly conservative and are advocates of the Constitution and history. They are generally interested in discussing them both.

What do you love about U.S History and the forming of our government?
I love that the Constitution is meant to give citizens the space to self-govern.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
As the great granddaughter of an Italian immigrant, I would love to visit the site which welcomed my great grandfather into this country: The Statue of Liberty.

Which American historical figure is most influential/inspirational to you?
Calvin Coolidge is the most influential and inspirational American historical figure to me.

Who is your greatest role model?
I don’t know if I could decide between my parents. Both my mother and my father are my greatest role models.

What in your life are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about my Catholic faith.

How do you spend your free time?
In my free time I read, crochet, hang out with friends, swing dance, play games with my friends and family, sing, play viola and piano, and rock climb.

What are your plans for the future?
My future plans include eventually getting married and having a family and being involved in my community through local politics.

If you could do one super impactful thing to help people, what would it be?
It has been on my heart to join the Board of Education in my local community and reform the education system. Whether this be “super impactful” or not, I believe it is a duty I owe to the community.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution is relevant today because it remains the law of the land and thus still impacts our laws, our government, and individual people.

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