Pictured left to right Pi Gamma Mu member Olivia Ferrell, essay co-winners Gabriella Brown and Barbara Blankenship, and Pi Gamma Mu Advisor and GSC Associate Professor of History Dr. Arthur DeMatteo.
Glenville, WV - The Glenville State College Department of Social Sciences and the West Virginia Zeta Chapter of Pi Gamma Mu, the Social Science Honor Society sponsored the seventh annual Constitution Day Ceremony at the GSC Presidents Auditorium on Thursday, September 15th. The theme for the 2011 celebration was 'The Constitution and the Supreme Court.'
The celebration began with a short skit preformed by several members of Pi Gamma Mu about the ratification of the United States Constitution. The skit was written by GSC graduate ('43) and long time supporter Fran Schmetzer.
Glenville State College Professor of Political Science and Social Science Department Chair Dr. Michael Smith (pictured right) was the keynote speaker for the event. He spoke about how the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission has affected politics in the United States.
One feature of the celebration is a Constitution Day Essay Contest for GSC students. The theme for this year's essay was 'Should There Be Term limits for Supreme Court Justices?'
Barbara Blankenship of Braxton County, a senior Education major with specializations in Elementary Education and English (K-Adult) and Gabriella Brown of Calhoun County, a sophomore Elementary Education major were chosen as co-winners of the contest. Blankenship's essay took a stand against term limits and Brown's entry was pro term limits for Supreme Court Justices. Blankenship is a three-time winner having also won the 2010 and 2009 contest. She was the runner up in the 2008 Constitution Day Essay Contest.
Blankenship and Brown were each awarded a $25 gift certificate to the GSC Bookstore and a book courtesy of GSC Major Gifts Officer and West Virginia Gubernatorial candidate Dr. Bob Henry Baber for their winning efforts.
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