A sixth-grader in Albert Lea was awarded an honorable mention last week in the 13th annual Statewide Middle School Human Rights Essay Contest.

Camryn Keyeski, a student at Lakeview Elementary School, wrote an essay that explored her rights in school and in the community.

She explored four rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to learn and the right to be friends with anyone she chooses.

“If we didn’t have these rights, we would not be where we are now,” Keyeski wrote.

Keyeski had previously been awarded with first-place honors for her essay in Albert Lea. As part of receiving the local award, her essay was submitted to the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions by the Albert Lea Human Rights Commission.

Libby Fairchild with the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions said Keyeski’s essay was very well organized.

Rick Harves, Keyeski’s teacher at Lakeview Elementary, said Keyeski did “a very nice job of personalizing her reaction to the rights she chose to write about.

“She reflected some of the same feelings as several of her other classmates, but came across with stronger voice in some parts.”

Each of his students participated in the contest as part of an assignment for his class.

Harves said he chose to assign the project because he wanted to help the students connect their learning with community events and values.

Other essays by students around the state included discussions on the rights of people with disabilities, bullying in the schools, the right to an education, the rights of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer culture, immigration, the economy, home foreclosure and homelessness.

Students were asked to write based on the topic, “How do human rights apply to you and your peers in your school and community?”

The six students who received awards, including Keyeski, read their essays to the entire group at the state ceremony.

Many of the students’ families and teachers also attended.

According to a news release sent out by the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission, “the insights that were presented by the students were well received and gave much hope for the future and their potential as future leaders in whichever communities they choose to live in as adults.”

Other award winners included Sophia Miliotis, Roseville Area Middle School, first place; Jennifer Madaras, Chippewa Middle School, second place; Katie Cudo, Plymouth Middle School, third place; Sideena Grace, Ascension School, honorable mention; and Siyesh Balaji, Marshall Middle School, honorable mention.