BHS Student Wins Ninth Judicial District Essay Contest

Briarcliff High School sophomore Stephanie Markowitz was the top award winner for the annual essay contest sponsored by the Ninth Judicial District Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the Courts in celebration of Women’s History Month.
The 500-word or less essay contest is open to all students in accredited high schools in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Orange counties. Stephanie Makowitz was honored at a breakfast with Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman, BHS Principal Deb French, BHS English Teacher Julia Fernandez as well as her parents and many other elected officials including Catherine Borgia, Ken Jenkins, and other representatives from the Ninth District.
Past topics have included “The 100th Anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony and the Women’s Right to Vote in New York State in 1917,” “Laws that Promoted Gender Equality: Have they been a blessing or a curse?” or “Write a letter to the District attorney in support or opposition of a proposed program to let women prisoners finish serving their sentences at home because women are less likely to commit violent crimes, naturally nurture their families, and more necessary than men to be at home for the integrity, continuity and health of the family.”