Students from across the state gathered in Raleigh recently as the North Carolina Bar Association observed Law Day.

Joining the students who are being honored for their efforts in the annual Law Week competitions was Judge Earl Britt of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, who received the Liberty Bell Award.

The Liberty Bell award is presented annually by the NCBA's Young Lawyers Division, which organizes Law Week festivities, in recognition of an individual "who has strengthened the American system of freedom under law."

The students were recognized for their efforts in essay writing, photography, poster art, video and moot court.

A team of North Moore High School students took first place in the video contest. Participating were Landon Auman, Alexander Bello, Hollie Caviness, Anna Davis, Gina Davis, Trevor Dunlap, Joshua Dupuis, Danial Hoeppner, Kendall Greene, Laura Lambert, Ethan Morrison and Xavier Richardson.

The finals of the moot court competition were conducted Friday morning before a panel of N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices and judges, respectively.

Western Region champions Darrell Black and Amber Pritchard, of South Point High School in Belmont, defeated Eastern Region champions Chaarushi Ahuja and Carly Schnitzler, from Grimsley High School in Greensboro, for the moot court title.

Comprising the moot court panel were Chief Justice Sarah Parker, Justice Robert H. Edmunds, Justice Robin E. Hudson and Justice Barbara A. Jackson, of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and Judge Linda Stephens, of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

The teams joined the other honorees and dignitaries for an awards luncheon at the Cardinal Club. NCBA President Martin Brinkley presented the Law Day Proclamation issued by Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Other student winners included:

Essay Contest (grades 6-8): All placements from W.G. Pearson Magnet Middle School in Durham: 1. Simone Wilder, 2. Korey Billings and 3. Andresha Mcphaul.

Essay Contest (grades 9-12): 1. Thomas Dols, South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte; 2. Austin Dickson, Holly Springs High School, Holly Springs; 3. Ryan Kane, Grimsley Senior High School, Greensboro.

Poster Art Contest (grades 3-5): 1. Augustus Pace-Stockton Wagoner, Sparta School, Sparta; 2. Kahleen Marie Howell, Sparta School, Sparta; 3. Jennifer Lee Sieredzki, Riverwood Elementary School, Clayton; and honorable mention, Abigail Harris, Kingswood Elementary, Cary.

Photo/Essay Contest (grades 6-8): All placements from Cullowhee Valley School in Cullowhee: 1. Lowery Messer, 2. Abigail Fox and 3. Sam Philip Coyle.

The national observance of Law Day was first proclaimed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Feb. 3, 1958, and is celebrated annually by the NCBA on the first Friday in May.

Funding for Law Day and Law Week events is provided by the Beverly C. Moore Justice Fund of the NCBA Foundation.