The lawyers and judges of the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, along with the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, congratulate the winners of the 2025 High School Essay Contest. The winners—including the student essay finalists as well as winning teachers and principals—were honored at an awards ceremony held in Courtroom 14B of the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The students' families were also in attendance at the ceremony. 

Of the student winners, the first-place winner received $2,000, will have the opportunity to shadow a federal judge for a day, and their essay will be published on the Court's webpage. The second-place student received $1,000, and the third-place student received $500. The students who placed fourth through tenth place each won $150. Each of the top ten students also received a framed certificate, a goody bag containing various District Court-branded gifts, and an invitation to attend the Annual Summer Law Camp.  

The first-place winning essay is available to read here. Please join us in congratulating the following top ten winners:

The teachers of the top three student winners were each awarded a $500 classroom grant. Please join us in congratulating the following teachers:

At the awards ceremony, the school with the greatest number of qualifying entries was Strawberry Crest High School. This high school received a $1,000 school grant.

Thank you to all students who participated in the 2025 High School Essay Contest, as well as the teachers and principals who contributed to its success.