Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) hosted his sixth annual “There Ought to Be a Law” ceremony on Monday, June 17, at Mineola Middle School to recognize 33 semi-finalists who were selected to represent their class. There were 657 total entries from local schools throughout the district. Ra was pleased to announce this year’s winner, Mohini Moolsankar from Manor Oaks School. Her submission of an idea for a law was related to enacting limitations on social media usage for young children. “There Ought To Be A Law” invites students to think critically about ideas they think might make good laws.

Assemblyman Ra asked Cory Israel from Polk Street School to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Additionally, there was an Honorable Mention award given to Elyse Fabre of Mineola Middle School. Her law idea was that bus companies contracted by schools for field trips should be required to meet the same standards for student safety as mandated by the Pupil Transportation Services of the State Education Department.

“One of my favorite events every year is the ‘There Ought To Be A Law’ contest because I get to see what the youth in our community care about. They have lots of great ideas to better the community for all. Congratulations to Mohini, whose idea to enact limitations on social media usage for young children is both timely and essential, and Elyse, who wants to ensure students’ safety on school buses. And thank you to all who participated this year! Your creativity and commitment to improving our community are truly inspiring.”

Participating schools and student semi-finalists are as follows:

Washington Street School
Niamh McManamy-Ost
Katelyn Persaud

Manor Oaks
Mohini Moolsankar
Ankita Verma

Stratford School
Nathan Brown
Luke Gentile
Lucia Hora
Aryo Zehtabchi
George Washington School
Evelyn Brancato
Mikael Khan
Ryan Medica
Joanne Nicolas
Alicia Varone

John Street School
Nicholas Dunnigan
Avery Incognito
Julia Sabesan

St. Joseph School
Abigail Wu-Falcone

St. Anne School
Vito DiPaolo
Cameryn Roche

Notre Dame School
William Cascio
Briana Michel

Mineola Middle School
Zara Abreu
Thayline Acevedo Sanchez
Isabella Castellano
Elyse Fabre
Grace Galanga
Anne Gentile
Axel Gomez Granados
Vanessa Kraljev
Alexander Murawski
Jacob Smallwood

Polk Street
Cory Israel
Olivia LaDuca