FORT MYERS, Fla. - s4story -- The founder of Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment (AACE), Noah Moon, was recently awarded first place in the 2025 High School Essay Contest for the United States District Court Middle District of Florida.

The Middle District of Florida is a federal court covering 35 of Florida's 67 counties organized into five regions – Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando and Tampa – handling federal civil and criminal cases, and includes district judges, senior judges and magistrate judges. It is a major federal trial court, geographically spanning from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic and serving more than half of Florida's population.

The focal point of this year's essay was 'Justice for All.' While the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to legal counsel for criminal defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, this right does not extend to individuals involved in civil disputes.

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Students from grades 9-12 in the Middle District were invited to describe a time when they advocated for someone else, had someone else advocate for them, or believed an advocate could have helped resolve a difficult situation involving themselves or someone they know. They were asked to highlight why having an advocate is vital to creating a more just and equitable society.

Moon based his essay on a personal experience that led him to the founding of AACE, a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide a supportive space where young people of all backgrounds build self-esteem, resilience and positive relationships through mentorship and guidance from student-athletes.

Moon said of the award, "It's an honor to be recognized with this prestigious award. I don't take the efforts I put forth advocating for students lightly. I am committed to helping students find their voices and building their confidence both inside and outside of the classroom."

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The recognition led to an invitation for him to read his essay at the federal courthouse in Fort Myers as part of the Court's Bill of Rights Day event. This provided an opportunity for Moon to share his essay in a civic setting that also included a naturalization ceremony for individuals becoming U.S. citizens.

The event was also personally significant for Moon and his family. He and his parents are deeply connected to his family from Argentina. His grandparents became U.S. citizens in a similar ceremony in 1984. His mother remembers being there with them, which made witnessing this moment through her son feel full circle.

AACE is actively seeking partnerships with elementary and middle schools, afterschool programs and organizations in need of youth mentorship. To find out more about the opportunities to bring their program to your organization, please visit AACEToEmpower.org/Contact.