Freshman Tucker Eklund has earned national recognition as the only 9th grader in the country to win the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy annual Civics Challenge for his entry, Crafting Change: The Art of Lawmaking in Congress.

The Civics Challenge is a highly competitive national contest open to students in grades 6 through 12, inviting participants to demonstrate their civics knowledge through essays, short videos, or original songs. Tucker was named among just ten winners nationwide, with each recipient earning a $500 cash prize.