The Tallahassee Chronicle article “James Madison Institute honors two students at Fla. History Fair” provides coverage of JMI’s “Economic Freedom Award” and “Celebrate Freedom Award” 2012 winners.Text of Article:
Two outstanding Florida students claimed special awards sponsored by The James Madison Institute (JMI) at the Florida History Fair earlier this month.Thong Nguyen won JMI’s “Celebrate Freedom Award” for his exhibit on the Vietnam War. A student at Rutherford High School in Bay County, Nguyen personally interviewed more than two dozen Vietnamese immigrants while working on his project.”One of the things I love” Nguyen observed, “is how in the U.S., the Vietnamese people have the right to voice their beliefs without fear of getting arrested.” Nguyen added, “In Vietnam, a word against the government could result in being arrested or death.”Brianna Leatherwood won JMI’s “Economic Freedom Award” for her essay on “Reforming Monopoly Law and the Oil Industry.” A middle school student from Escambia County, Leatherwood focused her project on Standard Oil Company of New Jersey v. United States, a Supreme Court case that Leatherwood said was very significant in “the continuing struggle for the preservation of free enterprise throughout America.”Bob McClure, president of The James Madison Institute, said that he was pleased JMI could help contribute to the success of this year’s Florida History Fair.Apart from these two special awards, JMI also sponsored three performances by Ben Franklin re-enactor Lloyd Wheeler at the Fair’s Open House at the Museum of Florida History. In addition, one of JMI’s former interns, Dana Edwards, will be interning this summer at the National History Day headquarters in College Park, Md.”We like seeing students delve into history,” McClure said. “The Florida History Fair is a great way for students to gain a deeper appreciation for the political and economic freedom that all Americans enjoy.”
2012
