The New Hampshire Bar Foundation is pleased to announce its second annual high school civics essay contest. Students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 (or their equivalent) in the State of New Hampshire during the 2025-2026 academic year are invited to submit an essay based on the prompt below for the chance to win a prize of up to $5,000. The top 3 essays will be chosen in March by a panel of attorneys and judges. The author of the first-place essay will receive a $5,000 prize, while second and third-place winners will each receive a $2,500 prize. All three award recipients will be honored at a ceremony on April 4th, 2026 at the Merrimack Superior Court. Check back for more details to be announced regarding ceremony date and location. All winning essays will be featured on the Bar Foundation’s website.
Essay Topic: Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) companies create services such as ChatGPT by scanning books and articles, which often contain intellectual property that results from years of hard work, study, and expertise. These companies then generate profits by either selling their services or providing them for free and profiting from the data obtained from users.
As our country nears its 250th birthday, how should the freedoms and rights identified in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution shape the way Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT are regulated? Should AI companies be required by law to pay the authors whose work they use? In answering this question, consider the balance of this country’s constitutional commitments to free speech, privacy, and property rights (including intellectual property). Identify and weigh the positive and negative effects of AI. Cite two or three court cases that have informed your thinking.
Word Count: 750-1,000 words
Submission Deadline: February 6, 2026, at 5pm
Prizes: 1st prize: $5,000 cash, 2nd and 3rdprize: $2,500 cash
Each entry must include a completed Contest Entry Form and completed Essay Release Form. Questions? Contact Cindy Roberts at croberts@nhbar.org or (603) 715-3210.
https://www.nhbar.org/civics-essay-contest/
Liam demonstrates outstanding ethical behavior & self-advocacy, resiliency & adaptability, and innovation, collaboration & engagement. He put in major effort to graduate a year early and is one of the hardest-working members of the debate team. Liam is always willing to help new members and freshmen, making sure everyone feels supported and included. His dedication and kindness make him truly deserving of a spot on our shout-out board! 💙✨
#RamPride #StudentShoutOut #Leadership #Resiliency #Collaboration
Week 1: February 23 – 27, 2026
Week 2: April 27 – May 1, 2026
Application deadline: January 16, 2026 Priority given to applications received by December 19, 2025 Organized by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance
What are the Old Building Trades? Basically, they are the trades involved in repairing and maintaining old buildings, including houses, barns, and public buildings like libraries and schools. The old building trades include timber framing, wood window restoration, carpentry and joinery, masonry (stone and brick work), plastering, painting, decorative finishes, iron work, and other traditional techniques. These trades are also used to construct new buildings using old techniques. Learn more about the N.H. Preservation Alliance Preservation Trades Initiative.
The Program The N.H. Preservation Alliance is offering career exploration opportunities for participants aged 16 - 21. No experience is needed to participate. We will try to match you with available opportunities in your area. The program will be offered in Central New Hampshire (Canterbury and Loudon) with optional days on the Seacoast (Portsmouth and vicinity). Specific locations will vary based on each participant's age, interest and abilities and may include professional workplaces and historic sites such as Canterbury Shaker Village, Sanborn Mills Farm and Strawbery Banke Museum. Benefits include exposure to a range of historic preservation activities like traditional construction techniques, repair of damaged building elements, wood window restoration, and the history of the buildings being worked on. Activities will depend on each participant’s skill set and the projects available at the time. Mentors may include Arron Sturgis of Preservation Timber Framing, Arch Weathers of Historic Sashworks, Ian Blackman (profile here), Steve Fifield of Fifield Building Restoration and Relocation (profile here), Oliver Fifield (article and photo here), and Colin Hebert of CJH Electrical. All are seasoned professionals and many are members of the Timber Framers Guild, the Window Preservation Alliance or other trade organizations.
For more information and the application process reach out to Mr. Goodwin in room 11, your ELO Coordinator
al.goodwin@nhsau64.gov
Grace consistently demonstrates respect and empathy in the classroom. They always complete their work, treat others with kindness, and quietly help classmates whenever they can. Grace’s positive attitude and calm presence make our learning space better every day! 💙✨
#RamPride #RespectAndEmpathy #StudentShoutOut #KindnessMatters
Hydroponic farming is a sustainable method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. This allows us to grow herbs like dill right in the classroom, providing a unique learning experience for our students about sustainability and healthy eating.
Students followed a recipe to transform this fresh dill into tasty pickles in just one week. It's a fantastic way to learn about food preservation and enjoy the fruits (or veggies) of their labor!
Check out this awesome shop to grab your Nute apparel and accessories:
🔗 https://shop.verticalraise.com/shops/new-hampshire/milton
All gear is fully customizable — if you don’t see something you love, you can swap out the images, colors, and more to make it your own!
Show your Nute pride!
December 15
Basketball and cheer/spirit photos
Seniors must get their photo taken for senior banners
Girls Varsity @ 5:30
Boys Varsity @7:00
Isaac shows wonderful respect and collaboration! He has helped many friends, including supporting a classmate with their work — and thanks to his guidance, that classmate aced the next day’s quiz! Isaac is not only a great helper but also a strong student himself. 💙✨
#RamPride #RespectAndEmpathy #StudentShoutOut #CollaborationMatters
At Nute, we believe in the power of community service to foster growth, empathy, and leadership in our students. By stepping outside the classroom and into our community, students gain invaluable life skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Our students are excited and ready to make a difference! From volunteering at local organizations to organizing charity events, they are eager to contribute and be active members of our community. Together, we are fostering a culture of service and responsibility that extends beyond our school grounds.
Join us in celebrating the spirit of giving back and the positive impact our students are making every day!
Bella consistently shows respect and empathy! She helps her classmates understand their work in many classes and does so with patience and kindness. Thank you, Bella, for being such a supportive and caring peer! 💙✨
#RamPride #StudentShoutOut #RespectAndEmpathy #HelpingHands
Boys: https://vraise.org/rNTW8i
Girls: https://vraise.org/CM6DGs
Colton consistently shows respect and empathy! He’s always helping to keep the classroom tidy and goes out of his way to support his peers — whether it’s picking up the room or offering academic help. Thank you, Colton, for being such a helpful and caring member of our community! 💙✨
#RamPride #RespectAndEmpathy #StudentShoutOut #HelpingHands
