“This year’s theme for Law Day was the rule of law and the American dream, and as is typically the case, we had a number of very good entries, both on the art side and the essays,” District Judge and Law Day Chair Christian Frey said in welcoming those in attendance.

Lycoming County Judges Ryan Tira, Ryan Gardner, William Carlucci and President Judge Eric Linhardt were in attendance for the ceremony, as were county Commissioners Scott Metzger and Marc Sortman.

“Law Day is always exciting here in Lycoming County, and we’re very privileged to be a part of it,” Sortman said.

“This is a wonderful occasion that I love attending every year, because we get to celebrate our youth. We celebrate your creativity and your talents, and it’s always neat to see what they do each year,” Metzger said.

Riley Plocinski, of Loyalsock Valley Elementary. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

“Kids, you have wonderful parents that love you and they’re always there for you. Thank them for being there, running you to all the things that you’re involved in, and you also have wonderful teachers that care about you and want the best for you,” he added, offering a heartfelt thank you to them as well.

The competition was made up of two categories: art, including both visual and written, and essays.

Winners of the art category, included Tobias Bratt, of Jersey Shore Elementary, Riley Plocinski, of Loyalsock Valley Elementary, Sophie Karim, of Jersey Shore Elementary, Abbygale Madron, of Jersey Shore Elementary, Madelyn VanFleet, Loyalsock Township Middle School, Caitlyn Steppe, of Loyalsock Township Middle School, Charlotte Cappel, of Loyalsock Township Middle School and grand prize art winner Tarek Ghayyada, of Loyalsock Township Middle School.

Ghayyada’s piece centered on the importance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and those who endured unimaginable hardships on the path to realizing the American dream.

Essay winners included Emersyn Bird, of Saint John Neumann, Melanie Pearson, of Donald E. Schick Elementary, Hayden Friant, of Carl G. Renn Elementary and Adam Ghayyada, of Loyalsock Township High School.

Sophie Karim, of Jersey Shore Elementary. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Following the presentation of her essay, Pearson was treated to a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” led by Frey in honor of the date also being Pearson’s 11th birthday.

This was the second appearance in a row for Pearson, as well as 2025 grand prize winner Adam Ghayyada.

Not present for the ceremony were Adam Ghayyada and Bratt.

This year’s grand prize essay winner was Kristina Kranz, of Loyalsock Township High School.

Kranz’s essay detailed the profound changes ushered in American society following the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, calling it “a profound recalibration of the relationship between law and liberty by outlawing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.”

Abbygale Madron, of Jersey Shore Elementary, included photos of family members who served in the miltary as part of her art submission. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

As grand prize winner, Kanz received a cash prize of $1,000, courtesy of Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino, who was on hand to present the award.

During remarks by the judges, Carlucci began by thanking the parents, teachers and administrators of the contest winners.

“I do not always speak in terms of the American dream. I more often speak in terms of the American experience. And I think I see it that way because three out of my four grandparents were not born in this country,” he said.

“My own view is that for many people, the American Dream is the dream of being an American, that is of earning the right to call yourself an American,” he said.

“In my view, the American experiment is the first nation in the history of the world that is a pure meritocracy. It’s not about where you came from, not about who your parents are, not about the color of your skin, not about your religion. It’s about what you add to our society,” Carlucci said.

Abbygale Madron, of Jersey Shore Elementary. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

“I would encourage all the students who are here to think in terms of what you’re going to add to our society. What do you want to do? Because whatever you want to do, just make sure that you’re the best at it, and you’ll be welcome here,” he concluded.

Tira called the submissions “great reminders of what this country is about and what we’re based upon, an idea that we have the freedom to not just dream, but we have the laws to help you reach those dreams.”

“We created a demonstration about how we can live civilly by laws, and that we would follow those and I think that just shows a testament that we’re really about how we respect each other, that we have laws that allow you to seek your dreams, and earn those dreams,” he said.

“The reality is that in many other places, it’s not true. But when I see a young generation like today, who is inspired and comes up with these projects, I feel very good about the country we live in when I know this is the hands it’s in,” Tira said.

“What stands out to me the most, each and every, Law Day I’ve attended, is the depth of creativity that we see, whether it’s an art project or an essay, it is incredible,” Gardner offered, adding with a laugh,”and that comes from a place of when I was your age, I could barely draw a stick figure.”

Madelyn VanFleet, of Loyalsock Township Middle School. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

“It’s also important not to overlook the fact that all of you came up here and presented your projects, and it takes a tremendous amount of courage to stand up here and speak in front of a group of adults and young people you don’t know. The fact that you can do that will carry you far in life, moving forward, if you continue to force yourself to stand up and speak in front of a group,” he said.

“To the authors of the poetry and the essays, as you probably know, judges have to do a lot of writing, and I can think of a couple ways that we could put your services to use,” Gardner joked.

“The rule of law has many applications, and it is subject to constant interpretation. Collectively as a group, what I saw here today, you grasp not only the topic, but the subject matter. Its remarkable” he told the students.

“That’s something that you should all be incredibly proud of, because I know my colleagues and I certainly are very proud of you,” Gardner said.

“It’s so nice to see so many parents, teachers, family and friends here in support of our young people,” Linhardt said.

“I’m also impressed and proud and very happy to see how well supported this important day and event is by our county commissioners, our judges, our courts, our attorneys, volunteers and our District Attorneys,” he said, also offering his appreciation of Frey and the Law Day committee for their efforts each year.

“I also wanted to say how impressed I am with the beautiful artwork that your children have created, and the wonderful poems that they have written, and the very smart and impressive essays that they have drafted,” Linhardt said.

All student submissions are available for viewing at www.lycolaw.org/latest-news/2026/lycoming-county-celebrates-law-day.

Caitlyn Steppe, of Loyalsock Township Middle School, reads her poem, "First-Generation Student." MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Charlotte Cappel, of Loyalsock Township Middle School, presents her poem, "The Light of The Law." MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Tarek Ghayyada, of Loyalsock Township Middle School. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Emersyn Bird, of Saint John Neumann, talked about the role the Constitution plays in assuring all persons are afforded the American dream. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Melanie Pearson, of Donald E. Schick Elementary , presents her essay on the importance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Hayden Friant, of Carl G. Renn Elementary, reads her essay, "The Long Struggle," which detailed the struggles women endured on the road to achieving the right to vote. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Grand Prize Law Day Essay Winner Kristina Kranz, of Loyalsock Township High School. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Grand Prize Essay Winner Kristina Kranz is flanked by Lycoming County District Judge Christian Frey and District Attorney Tom Marino. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County District Judge and Law Day Chair Christian Frey. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County Commissioners Marc Sortman and Scott Metzger . MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County Commissioners Scott Metzger and Marc Sortman. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County District Judge Christion Frey is flanked by Commissioners Marc Sortman and Scott Metzger. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County Judges Ryan Tira, Ryan Gardner, Eric Linhardt and William Carlucci. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County Judge William Carlucci. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County Judge Ryan Tira. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County Judge Ryan Gardner. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette

Lycoming County President Judge Eric Linhardt. MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette