A gathering of over 100 students, families, and community members celebrated the power of youth's voices as contestants presented solutions, showcased campaign designs, and participated in a live election.
On November 21st, on the lower level of the University of Arizona Campus Store, the next generation of world changers gathered to envision the political future of our country. Middle and high school students from southwestern Arizona presented their solutions to challenges facing their communities. Hosted by the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom, in partnership with the Museum of Democracy, the Campus Store, and supported by the Arizona Board of Regents; the awards ceremony drew over 100 attendees. Students, families, and friends came together to hear five high school finalists deliver their speeches.
Attendees then voted for our next “president” in a live election, after which awards were presented by David Litt, former Obama presidential speechwriter and author, and Mari Clark, MOD Outreach Coordinator. Throughout the event, the creativity of more than 70 middle school students was highlighted through campaign and swag posters displayed on stage and featured in the Museum of Democracy exhibit. These posters will remain part of the Museum of Democracy’s “Pathway to the Presidency” exhibit until it closes in spring of next year. The Freedom Center is proud to showcase the creativity and civic engagement of over 70-young participants.
As a presidential speechwriter for President Obama at the young age of 24, David Litt was a fitting choice to serve as the featured speaker. He inspired and encouraged the contestants with three central insights.
David Litt's Advice
- Just by entering the contest, you’ve thrown your hat in the ring and made your voice heard. That’s not just brave—it’s American. In this country, we don’t believe that everyone gets to succeed, but we do believe that everyone can—and should—try.
- The moment you throw your hat in the ring, you create a disconnect between you, “the speaker,” and everyone else, “the audience.” The greatest challenge any speaker faces is closing that gap.
- You can close this gap by being curious about the people you’re addressing, by using humor, and by challenging people in a way that invites them to be part of something larger than themselves.
His message resonated deeply. Contestants demonstrated strong empathy for the issues facing our nation and impressive critical thinking in proposing solutions. One Freedom Center employee was even heard saying, “Can we have a middle school student as our real president?”
Selecting both middle school winners and high school finalists proved to be an incredibly difficult task for both the panel of Freedom Center judges and the live audience voting on the speech finalists. Watching the live results come in for the speech contestants was exhilarating as the top contenders continued to change up until the end of voting. Students invested considerable time and effort—and it showed. The crowd offered loud applause for the winners and all who took their first step toward bright futures leading the country.
The Center for the Philosophy of Freedom and the Museum of Democracy were deeply impressed by the quality of student entries. The creativity, thoughtfulness, and civic awareness demonstrated by participants underscore the importance of engaging young people in addressing the challenges facing our communities and country. By providing a platform for students to share their ideas and solutions, the event reinforced the value of civil discourse and constructive dialogue—principles central to the mission of the Center. Through initiatives like this, youth are empowered to take an active role in shaping the future, ensuring that the next generation of leaders is both informed and committed to meaningful participation in our democracy.
Congratulations to all of the contestants, the winners, and especially to the teachers and guardians who continue to support them along their journeys.
Pictures from the Event
