Congressman Skaggs presents award to NHS student

Niwot senior Stephanie Reitzig has been awarded first place for her essay on the First Amendment in a scholarship competition sponsored by former Colorado Congressman David Skaggs. Skaggs, who represented District 2 from 1987 to 1999. Reitzig was presented a $1,000 check during a visit to her world history class on Nov. 27.

Earlier this fall, Skaggs received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award from the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), honoring his years of public service before, during and after his time in the U.S. House of Representatives. Skaggs, who now makes his home just outside of Niwot, has been extensively involved in student outreach through the FMC’s Congress to Campus program, and has also spearheaded recent efforts to develop a new education initiative aiming to restore the “civic mission of our schools.”

In conjunction with his award, the former Skaggs sponsored the contest, which invited students to submit their answer to the question: “What is the most important provision in the U.S. Constitution and Why?” The entries were judged by a group of FMC staffers based in Washington D.C., and Reitzig’s defense of free speech rights was given top honors.

“I’ve read it, and it’s really very good,” said Skaggs. “It’s quite apt, given the times we live in now, to raise up the importance of our rights to free speech and association.”

Reitzig has not decided where she’s off to next year, but has Washington D.C.-based Georgetown University on her short list.