Senator Nancy Barto and the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) were pleased to award Madeline Peltzer with a $3,000 college scholarship at the 2017 NFWL Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN. Ms. Peltzer was selected as one of six national winners of the 20th Annual Bill of Rights Essay Scholarship Contest, presented by the National Rifle Association (NRA), a sponsoring partner of NFWL.

Arizona State Senator Nancy Barto served as the mentoring legislator for Madeline Peltzer and presented the award to Ms. Peltzer at a special lunch on Friday, November 17 during the Annual Conference.

“Ms. Peltzer did an excellent job representing our state during this process," said Senator Barto. “Serving as Madeline’s mentor and sponsor was one of the most encouraging experiences I had all year, and it gives me hope that the next generation is serious about understanding the problems our country faces and becoming equipped to address them."

Madeline Peltzer is from Phoenix, Arizona, and is currently a freshman at Hillsdale College in Michigan. A political junkie, she is a longtime volunteer with her state’s family-policy and legislative council, has worked on numerous political campaigns, was selected as a staff member for TeenPact Leadership Schools (a national Christian organization that educates youth about the political process), and was elected the 2016/2017 Governor of the Southwest Region for Patriot Academy, a national Christian leadership and political training program. Madeline is a six-time national essay-contest winner, First Runner-Up at Arizona’s Distinguished Young Women scholarship competition (formerly America’s Junior Miss), a National Merit Commended Scholar, and was a member of the National Homeschool Honor Society all four years of high school. She is majoring in political economy and minoring in piano performance and hopes to pursue law school, intern for a Washington, D.C. think tank, and work in policy analysis, punditry, or public office.

Applicants were given four prompt options, all of which examined timely current events. The essay topics asked students to further analyze the role of women in American politics, which led to a diverse array of responses from the record-breaking number of students who applied for the scholarship. A selection committee judged each essay based upon the student’s understanding of the U.S. Constitution, historical research, insight, perspective, inspirational quality, and meaningful personal connection.

The National Foundation for Women Legislators supports elected women from all levels of governance and is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. NFWL does not take ideological positions on public policy issues, but serves as a forum for women legislators to be empowered through information and experience. You can check out more of their work at www.womenlegislators.org

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