Press Releases

Press Releases

TBA Announces 2014 Video Contest for Students

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jan 6, 2014

YouTube contest explores how laws are made, amended and repealed

NASHVILLE, Jan. 6, 2014 — Tennessee Bar Association President and Sevierville lawyer Cindy Wyrick today announced the association’s Fourth Annual YouTube Video Contest to encourage middle and high school students to explore how laws are made, amended and repealed. Titled “There Ought to be a Law,” the contest challenges students to create a three-minute video that discusses an issue they would like to see addressed through the legislative process.

The contest is open to individual students or groups of students from any Tennessee high school, middle school, home school or non-school based organization (e.g., a Girl Scout troop).  Middle school entries must be submitted by March 17. High school entries must be submitted by March 24. Winning videos will be announced in late April and will be available for viewing on the TBA YouTube page.

In announcing the contest, Wyrick said, "The TBA, as part of its public education mission, encourages middle and high school students to learn more about the ways laws are made and enforced. In this year's YouTube Video Contest, students are invited to put themselves in the position of elected lawmakers and propose a specific issue they would like to see addressed through the legislative process. My hope is that, through this program, students across Tennessee will learn more about our system of government by exploring the range of issues lawmakers confront every day."

Videos will be judged by a committee of the TBA based on adherence to the theme, significance of the topic and factual accuracy, as well as creativity and overall production quality. Students will compete for cash prizes for themselves and their sponsoring organizations. In addition, the first place winners in each age division will have their videos shown to leaders of the state’s legal community at the TBA’s Convention in June in Gatlinburg.

For more information about the contest – including entry rules, forms and resources for students – visit the contest webpage.

If you have ever thought, “There ought to be a law,” this contest is for you!
 

Learn more about the contest

Download a flyer about the contest

Get contest rules

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Contest History
The YouTube Contest was created in 2010 to generate knowledge and interest in the law and the American judicial system among Tennessee students. It was the primary public service project of then-TBA President Sam Elliott, who made civics education a focus of his year in office. The first contest winners were named in 2011. The 2011 competition focused on Tennessee's unique history of law and liberty. The 2012 competition focused on the constitutional right of freedom of communication. The 2013 competition focused on the importance of a fair and impartial judiciary.