Senior Lia Kopar has won a $1000 Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association Scholarship.  This is an annual essay competition and only three winners are selected from public and private high schools in the counties comprising the western district of Pennsylvania.

For this year’s essay contest, students were asked to address whether it is a violation of the Constitution for two people, who committed the same crime and were both found guilty of the same crime, to receive different sentences for that crime based on a change in the sentencing guidelines that affects only one of the people.  Lia was presented with this scholarship information in her Advanced Placement 12 English class.  The court case position is not part of the course requirement; however, Lia accepted this challenge with grace and determination, using her analytical and writing skills.

Judging was based on thoughtfulness, organization, interest, spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Judges looked for writing that was clear, articulate, and logically organized.  Lia was given a detailed description of the case along with over 40 pages of Supreme Court decisions.  After her extensive research, Lia submitted a four page position paper.

Lia will be honored at the annual Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Annual Judiciary Dinner on Friday, May 2 at Heinz Field where she will be awarded her $1,000 scholarship.