A high school junior from Irvine has been named the grand-prize winner of the national We the Students Essay Contest.

Cynthia Huang earned the $7,500 grand prize after her essay topped a field of nearly 4,000 entries. Huang argued that respect is necessary for citizens to achieve a full realization of their rights.

Huang participates in the Orange County School of the Arts’ debate team and enjoys writing and history.

The contest is conducted by the Bill of Rights Institute, a nonprofit organization that develops educational resources on American history and government.