NASHVILLE, May 25, 2010 -- Knoxville fifth-grader Chihye Kim of Cedar Bluff Elementary has won first place in a Law Day art contest sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association, while Matthew Street, a senior at First Assembly Christian School in Cordova, won first place in the TBA's essay contest.

Each year, the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division holds a statewide art and essay contest in conjunction with Law Day -- a national day set aside on May 1 to celebrate the rule of law. Established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, Law Day provides an opportunity for young people to learn about the law and the American judicial system and an opportunity for lawyers to serve their communities. The theme of this year's contest was "Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges," which asked students to consider how society can honor long-standing traditions in the law while addressing new issues and situations that might challenge "old ways" of doing things.

In the art contest, second place went to Ason Jones of Memphis, who is an eighth-grader at Wooddale Middle School. Third place went to Rachel Wynn, an eighth-grader at Dorothy & Noble Harrelson School in Puryear.

Second place in the essay contest went to Joel Avey of Chattanooga, an eleventh-grader at McCallie School.

Students placing in the top slots received cash prizes for their winning entries. In addition, their entries will be displayed at the TBA's annual convention in Nashville June 2-5 and are available online here

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is the largest professional association in Tennessee with more than 10,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA provides opportunities for continuing legal education, professional development and public service. The TBA’s dedication to serving the state’s legal community is evidenced by its membership roll, which represents the entire spectrum of legal practice: plaintiff and defense lawyers, corporate counsel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, government lawyers and legal services attorneys.