The Recipient of the 2020 Freedom Scholarship

Bryson Gonzalez Winner of 2020 Freedom Scholarship Essay Contest

TALLAHASSEE, (FL) – August 19, 2020 – The Law Firm of Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, Leace & Hobbs announced Bryson Gonzalez as the twentieth recipient of the firm’s annual Freedom Scholarship Essay Contest. The 2020 Leon High School graduate’s award winning effort outlined how the Bill of Rights guarantees the rights of the individual and the protection of individual freedom.

“In an effort to promote education and awareness of American liberties, we ask students from Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden and Jefferson Counties to write about: The Bill of Rights: What they mean to me as an American,” said Dean LeBoeuf, managing partner of the law firm. “The winning contestant, chosen by a celebrity panel of judges, is awarded $2,500 to assist with their future educational expenses.” Celebrating the 20th year of the competition, $50,000 has been awarded to deserving area students.

Bryson’s understanding of the Bill of Rights was thoughtful and concluded with, “As an American, the Bill of Rights means to me that my rights will not be infringed. This is not only because it has a carefully selected substance, but more importantly because it is built upon a foundation of checks and balances, of a Federal government in which one man cannot easily gain much power. I am proud to live under such a system of government which so effectively protects my freedom.”

Bryson ran cross country and track for Leon all four years of high school and is proud of the fact that they placed 3rd in this year’s state competition. He was Student Government president his senior year in addition to serving as president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Bryson gives great credit to these accomplishments to his involvement with Boy’s State the summer before his junior year.

Bryson will be attending the University of Florida where he will be a 5th generation Gator. He has been accepted into their prestigious honors program and intends to major in Finance and then hopefully attend law school following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Contest judges this year included Circuit Court Judges, Kevin Carroll, Angela Dempsey and Stephen Everett who were all very impressed with the quality of the essays and had a difficult time selecting the winner.

Applications for our 2021 Freedom Scholarship essay will be distributed early next year.