Five Manalapan-Englishtown Students Recognized in 2011 Law Day Ceremony

Three students from Pine Brook School and two students from Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School were recognized for their essays during the 2011 Law Day ceremony in the general equity courtroom of the Hall of Records in Freehold Borough. The annual event, hosted by The Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth Vicinage, and the Monmouth Bar Association, took place on Monday, May 2 at 4 p.m. 

According to a press release from the Monmouth Vicinage, 2011 marks the 54th anniversary of Law Day, “which is designated as a celebration of our nation’s great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under law”. The national theme was “The Legacy of John Adams, from Boston to Guantanamo.”

“This year’s law day theme will help reinforce the fundamental principle of the rule of law," Monmouth Vicinage Assignment Judge Lawrence M. Lawson said in a press release. "It also provides the opportunity to honor our legal institutions and recognize their impact on our democratic society.” 

The event began with Judge Lawson’s opening remarks. Monmouth Bar Association President Craig Laughlin also spoke and court employee Tarika Jean-Pierre performed vocal selections.

Students in grades K-5 were presented with awards for an art contest which had the theme “Why is it important to have laws?” The team from Marine Academy of Science and Technology was also recognized for winning the 2011 Monmouth County mock trial competition.

Lawson presented awards to students in two middle school categories: sixth grade constituted one category, and seventh and eighth grades constituted a separate category. Students from Manalapan-Englishtown took home five of the six awards, addressing the topic, “Why is it important to defend the rights of the accused?”

Here is how they placed:

Pine Brook School

• First place - Lindsey Zadok, sixth grade
• Second place - Ryan Farrell,  sixth grade
• Third place - Kyle Ciemniecki,  sixth grade

Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School

• First place- Luke Tortora, eighth grade
• Third place - Heather Kaplan, eighth grade

“Law Day highlights the importance of our legal system and designs activities/events that give students the opportunities to gain a greater insight to how the legal process works,” MEMs principal, Robert Williams, said. Williams also commented on behalf of Pine Brook’s principal John Spalthoff.

“This year's topic on ‘why is it important to defend the rights of the accused’ is as important now as it was in 1770 when John Adams made the unpopular decision to defend British officers and soldiers," said Williams. “It is a basic principle of law that has remained in our legal system to protect all Americans,

“Students had to research, review, and compose an essay on this topic. This assignment, which was optional, allowed the students to delve into the legal and judicial system and see why John Adams' decision to protect people's rights still exists today,” he continued. “We are very proud that our students’ work was recognized in the Monmouth County Law Day.”

Former Deputy Mayor Susan Cohen also attended Law Day. The following evening, Cohen reported the news to the Board of Education, and said that she “was very proud to be a Manalapan resident” during the ceremony. 

Cohen congratulated the Board, the students, and their teachers. According to the MEMs website, Career Education teacher Susan Strugibenetti had submitted the students’ work for consideration.

Board President Michele Stipelman said that the students’ names will be included in a future meeting agenda for formal recognition.