Saint Joseph School eighth-grader Madison Regalia recently won a Catholic citizenship essay contest that asked students in grades eight to 12 to outline what virtues are important for elected leaders to have and how people can tell if they possess them.
All 27 of the Martinsburg school’s eighth-graders submitted essays for the contest, which was sponsored by Monsignor Lackey Council 1169 in Martinsburg. The 500-to-750-word papers were judged by Knights Jonathan Noyalas and Mike O’Donnell, as well as Maria Byrd, principal of Saint Joseph School.
The Knights defined virtue as “a habitual and firm disposition to do good” that governs the way people act and guides their conduct by reason and faith. Regalia noted in her essay that elected leaders have significant power and their decisions affect many lives.
“For this reason, it is crucial that these leaders possess virtues such as honesty and integrity,” she wrote. “These virtues are essential not only for their personal character, but also for the health and effectiveness of our democratic systems.”
She went on to explain why she believes those virtues are vital.
“One of the most important aspects of leadership is the ability to make ethical decisions,” she wrote. “When leaders are honest, they provide accurate information to the public, which
helps citizens make informed choices and trust their leaders. Honesty reduces the spread of false information and builds a foundation of trust between leaders and the public.”
She said integrity is the ability to adhere to one’s principles, even in difficult situations.
“Leaders with integrity make decisions that line up with their values and the needs of their role as a leader, rather than giving in to personal or political pressures,” Regalia wrote. “This consistent moral behavior helps ensure that decisions are fair and in the best interest of the people.”
During a Dec. 3 assembly in the school gym, Noyalas said selecting a winner was difficult.
“All of the essays were really well done, really well-written,” he said.
Byrd commented that the topic was timely, since a national election recently took place that included a race for the presidency.
Noyalas presented a $25 gift card and framed certificate to Regalia, whose winning essay was submitted for judging at the district level.
