Two Eastern Iowa Community College (EICC) students didn’t set out to become lawyers. But a pair of award-winning essays — and a hands-on look inside the Clinton County Courthouse — showed them the law still shapes their world in meaningful ways.
Amelia Reicks and Audree Kuhlman– who are enrolled in concurrent courses at EICC while attending Maquoketa High School-- were recently honored with a behind-the-scenes courthouse tour and meetings that included Associate District Court Judge Kimberly Shepherd and the Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf.
The recognition followed state-level wins in legal writing contests sponsored by the Iowa Bar Association and supported by EICC Instructor Shawn Hamerlinck, who encouraged their interest and effort.
Reicks won the bar’s Sesquicentennial Celebration essay contest for District 7. Kuhlman’s essay won the Know Your Constitution competition.
Their courthouse visit offered a rare peek into the real workings of the justice system — from conversations with judges to walking the same halls where real cases are decided. While both students plan careers far from the courtroom, they came away with a clearer view of law’s impact on everyday life.
That connection was also at the heart of their writing.
Reicks focused her essay on student rights and school security, inspired by a local court case she studied in class. Kuhlman explored the implications of Miranda rights through the lens of a constitutional case. Though their topics were complex, both students were up for the challenge — thanks in part to the encouragement of Hamerlinck.
“They didn’t just write and submit their essays,” he said. “We went through each line, each draft — four times. They did the work.”
Wolf praised their accomplishments and encouraged them to take every opportunity and continue exploring. He reminded them that their presence at the courthouse was an achievement in itself — and that they were surrounded by people ready to support their growth.
Reicks credited Hamerlinck and her father, an Iowa Bar Association attorney, for inspiring her to participate. Though she doesn’t plan to go into law, she sees value in understanding it.
“Government and legal knowledge apply to my life whether I’m actually participating in that as a career or not,” Reicks said.
Kuhlman agreed. Her interests lie in veterinary science, but she saw the essay as a chance to stretch herself intellectually and engage with something beyond her chosen path. “I just took time out of my day, sat down and started writing,” she said.
EICC’s concurrent classes allow high school students to earn college credit at no cost, giving them a head start before graduation and many opportunities to explore.
“It’s helping me get where I want to go,” Kuhlman said. “Even if I don’t pursue a career in law, it’s still important to understand how the world works.”