Highlands High, Eastside Middle win annual We the People civic competition
The winning team from Highlands High (click to enlarge)
A team from Ft. Thomas Highlands High School won the Dec. 10 “We the People” civic competition and will represent Kentucky in the national finals. Eastside Middle School won the middle school division.
The contest, hosted by the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville, assessed students’ knowledge and understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Teams studied law, historical decision-making and key events at their respective schools and then participated in mock Congressional hearings. UofL professors, McConnell Scholar alumni, and local civic leaders and teachers judged the event.
"Understanding the American constitutional order has always been vital. As civic education offerings have diminished in curriculum of many schools, programs like We The People become ever more essential in our efforts to encourage our young people to understand and think through our heritage of free government," said McConnell Center Director Gary Gregg. "I applaud these young people and their teachers for going the extra mile to become more informed and engaged citizens."
Other teams competing in the statewide competition include Owen County High School and Maurice Bowling Middle School.
The Ft. Thomas Highlands High School team will participate in the national championship, held annually in congressional hearing rooms on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The team is coached by Megan Boimann-Hennies. Matthew Bertasso is the school principal.
Glenn Manns serves as the state coordinator for the Kentucky "We The People" program and organized the annual event.
More photos from the competition are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcconnellcenter/albums/72157712148424017