Olivia Zhu, Gr. 11,  has been named one of the top 10 national finalists in the First Freedom Student Competition and will receive an honorable mention. More than 2,200 high school students competed nationwide.

The First Freedom Student Competition offers monetary awards for student efforts on history, current events and the right to freedom of religion. The competition is hosted by the First Freedom Center, an organization that provides programs to increase understanding and respect for religious freedom.

For the competition, students write an essay on religious freedom which is judged by historians, historical site and museum professionals, retired educators and business executives. The semifinalists’ essays are judged by constitutional law and religious freedom scholars to determine the top 10 essays and final judging is by experts in the fields of higher education and law.

The competition is held annually and is open to students in the United States, U.S. territories and to American schools and American home-schooled students worldwide.