Greenville, SC (February 22, 2013) – Bob Jones University announced today that Bryan Ballas, a 2011 graduate, received first place in the graduate student division of the 2013 Regent University Ronald Reagan Symposium essay contest. Essays answered the question: “What role should religion play in presidential rhetoric?”
“Bryan’s political views are driven by his biblical worldview,” said Linda Abrams, BJU Political Science professor. “I have never had a student who so clearly understood the connection between biblical principles and public policy.”
Ballas was awarded the $1,500 grand prize in the graduate level division of the contest. The St. Augustine, FL resident is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Robertson School of Government at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA.
Dr. Eric Patterson, who serves as the Dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University said, “As someone who read his essay, I can say Ballas combined insightful analysis with thoughtful prose in his response to the conference theme ‘religion and presidential rhetoric.’”
This is the first time an essay contest was held in the eight year history of the annual Reagan Symposium. First, second and third place winners were awarded in three levels: high school, undergraduate and graduate.
