Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock
Scholarship

The Leander Area Republican Women (LeanderARW) is a multi-generational, multicultural grassroots organization that empowers women from all backgrounds to engage in the political process and serve as leaders in their communities. One of our core objectives is to promote an informed electorate.
LeanderARW has created the Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock Scholarship to encourage young people in our community to read and explore the United States (U.S.) Constitution. By learning about this important document, students can better understand its impact on our country and their own lives, becoming more informed and engaged citizens.

Scholarship Details

In honor of Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock and his dedication to upholding the principles of the U. S. and Texas Constitutions, LeanderARW is pleased to announce a scholarship of $1,000 to be awarded to a Senior in the Class of 2026 that resides in the Leander Independent School District (LISD) or Liberty Hill Independent School District (LHISD) attendance areas. The scholarship is open to all seniors, whether they attend a charter, home, private, or public school. 

Seniors are encouraged to compose and submit an essay ranging from 350 to 500 words that explores one of the principles of the U.S. Constitution. The essay should articulate the meaning of the principle, its significance to American society, and its influence on our nation or the lives of its citizens. Direct quotations from any signer or framer that reinforce the writer's perspective, along with the context of those statements, are encouraged and not included in the word count. The winner of the contest will be presented their Scholarship by Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock at the Supreme Court of Texas on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 10:00am. 

Timeline
  • December 10, 2025 - March 27, 2026 - Submissions accepted
  • March, 27, 2026, 5:00pm - Submissions Due online to LeanderARW
  • April 3, 2026 - Winner Announced
  • April 13, 2026 - Presentation of Scholarship by Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock

The United States of America Constitution is available online.

Principles of the U.S. Constitution

  1. Popular Sovereignty – Who gives the government its power
  2. Limited Government – The government has only the powers that the Constitution gives to it
  3. Separation of Powers – How is power divided
  4. Checks and Balances – How is abuse of power prevented
  5. Individual Rights – How are personal freedoms protected
  6. Federalism - How is power shared between the federal government & the states
  7. Republicanism – Citizens elect representatives to carry-out the people’s will

Rules for Contest

  • Prompt: Write an essay on one of the principles of the Constitution explaining what the principle means, why it is important to American society, and how it positively impacts our country or the lives of our citizens. You can include or reference direct quotes from any signer or framer that supports your thoughts and the context in which they made their statement.
  • Eligibility: The LeanderARW 2026 Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock Scholarship is open to the Senior Class of 2026 residing in the LISD and LHISD attendance areas; charter, home, private, and public schools.
  • Entries: Submissions must be entirely the original work of the students, without any assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). (Entries will be analyzed by third party software.) 
  • Submission: Entries may be submitted electronically via this form online.
  • Due Date: All entries must be received no later than Friday, March 27, 2026 at 5 PM.
  • Awards:
    1. All participants will receive a copy of the U.S. Constitution
    2. The winner will receive a certificate and a $1,000 scholarship. 
    3. Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock will present the winner with their award at the Supreme Court of Texas on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 10:00am.
    4. The winner will be invited to read their winning essay at a LeanderARW luncheon on Monday April 27, 2026.
  • Legal: Entrants assume the right of LeanderARW to reprint essays with appropriate citation given to the author. 
  • Judging: Submissions will be judged on
    1. Knowledge of the Constitution
    2. Use of the English Language (spelling, grammar, etc.)
    3. Originality
    4. Quality of response
    5. Use of quotations
  • The winner will be selected at the sole discretion of the LeanderARW Education & Literacy Committees and judging will be blind.
  • If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].