(Posted May 11, 2015)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Ethan Wilt, a senior at Juniata College studying politics from Altoona, Pa., received the First-Place Prize in the 2015 Pennsylvania Bar Association's Civil & Equal Rights Essay Contest for his essay "The Road to Equality: An Examination of How the Courts are Keeping Pennsylvania on the Right Path."

Wilt, the son of Eric and Julia Wilt, of Altoona, is a 2011 graduate of Altoona Area High School.

Wilt's essay defended the decision made in the Pennsylvania case Whitewood v. Wolf, which ruled that Pennsylvania's existing laws on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.

Wilt will start law school at Penn State this fall on a full scholarship. This year, 2014-2015, he served as judicial intern for George Zanic, Huntingdon County President Judge. During the summer of 2014, Wilt was a judicial intern for Daniel Milliron, Blair County Court of Common Pleas Judge.

Wilt received a $1,250 cash prize, as well as several other prizes associated with the Philadelphia-based contest.

During his Juniata career, Wilt was honored with the 2014 Outstanding Junior Award and received the C. Jewett Henry Fellowship Award in 2013 and 2014. He has participated in Juniata's Pre-law Club.

He was named to Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society for political science.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.