[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4400-S4401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE CONSTITUTIONAL LEGACY OF LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I want to give recognition to a very
outstanding group of young people from my State of Oregon, who
represent the Lincoln High School of Portland, OR.
Mr. President, as you know, during the bicentennial of the
Constitution, there was a commission formed of which Chief Justice
Burger of the Supreme Court was chair. I was privileged to serve on
that commission. In part of that commission's proceedings, we decided
to develop an ongoing project, bringing a focus to the Constitution of
the United States amongst the high school students of our country. That
started in 1987.
I want to say that that has been a program that I think has certainly
been worthy of the investment the Federal Government has made
sustaining that program over the years. I suppose you might call it
boasting, but I do not really think so. I am merely making a
recognition of an extraordinary accomplishment. One high school out of
the State of Oregon has not only won the State championship each year
of the 9 years of this program, it has finished in the top 10
contestants from high schools from every State in the Union here in
Washington, except for 1 year. It had won the national championship 2
years, until last night when it won it for the third time--one high
school.
I want to say that this is a high school that is in an urban setting,
and it is a high school that draws students from many diverse and
social economic backgrounds. The students who compete have varied
academic backgrounds, and the team consists of sophomores, juniors, and
seniors, and they work together as a team.
The competition these student participated in was rigorous and very
meaningful. Students demonstrated their knowledge of the Constitution
before simulated congressional committees made up of constitutional
scholars, lawyers, journalists, and government leaders. The panel of
judges tested the expertise of the classroom teams on a number of
significant questions--questions such as, ``How did the values and
principles embodied in the Constitution shape American institutions,
and what are the roles of the citizens in an American democracy?''
Mr. President, these are questions I still contemplate and struggle
with. There is something exciting about a room full of high school
students excited themselves about the Constitution, and excited about
the Nation's heritage.
Senator Pell and I had the privilege of being with this group from
all over the country last night. The students have worked very hard for
this honor, and there are a number of people who have helped them make
this achievement a reality. Special recognition must go to Marilyn
Cover, the State coordinator, and Dan James, the district coordinator
for the We the People Program.
I must also recognize the teachers and volunteers who gave up their
time to prepare the students. Dave Bailey and Gailen Norsworthy are
both teachers at Lincoln High School and coaches for the constitutional
team. Also, Chris Hardman and Chuck Sparks, who are attorneys from the
local community who volunteered to prepare the students for the legal
rigors of the competition. Also, I must single out the principal of
Lincoln High School, Velma Johnson. She is proud of these students, and
she has been extremely supportive of the We the People Program.
Mr. President, while it takes a number of outstanding individuals to
achieve the winning record of Lincoln High School, one individual
stands out as the catalyst and mentor for this stellar group of young
scholars--Hal Hart. Hal Hart is an attorney by profession. He has a
private law practice in Portland, but he takes time out of his busy
practice to teach at Lincoln High School. For Hal, this is a labor of
love and an opportunity to give back to the community. He teaches the
students about the intricacies of the Constitution, and based on the
school's record of success, he is obviously a master teacher.
I also want to individually commend the students by placing a list of
the participants from all over this country in the Record.
I ask unanimous consent that the list be printed at this point in the
Record.
There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
Class Roster for the 1995-96 Lincoln High School Bicentennial Class on
the United States' Constitution and Bill of Rights
Vasiliki Despina Ariston, age 15; Parents: Dino and Demetra
Ariston.
Jereme Rain Axelrod, age 15; Parents: Marilyn Couch and
David Axelrod.
Rebekah Rose Cook, age 16; Parents: Jim and Anne Cook.
Tawan Wyndelle Thomas Davis, age 16; Parents: Sylvia Anne
Davis.
Amanda Hope Emmerson, age 16; Parents: Ron and Ann
Emmerson.
Tiffany Ann Grosvenor, age 16; Parents: John and Jennifer
Grosvenor.
[[Page S4401]]
William John Hawkins IV, age 17; Parents: Bill and Kit
Hawkins.
Soren Anders Heitmann, age 17; Parents: Steve Heitmann and
Natasha Kern.
Stacy Elizabeth Humes-Schultz, age 15; Parents: Kathryn
Humes and Duane Schulz.
Marissa Tamar Isaak, age 15; Parents: Rabbi Daniel and
Carol Isaak.
Heather Brooke Johnson, age 17; Parents: Tony and K.C.
Johnson.
Katherine Mace Kasameyer, age 15; Parents: Kace and Jan
Kasameyer.
Christopher Michael Knutson, age 18; Parents: Michael and
Carol Knutson.
Jeanne Marie Layman, age 18; Parents: Charles and Debbie
Layman.
Daniel Hart Lerner, age 17; Parents: Cheryl Tonkin and
Glenn Lerner.
Casey James McMahon, age 18; Parents: Patty O'Connor and
and Jack McMahon.
Lindsay Katrine Nesbit, age 17; Parents: Lee and Deborah
Nesbit.
Gerald William Palmrose, age 16; Parents: David and Sonu
Palmrose.
Mary Ruth Pursifull, age 19; Parents: Rajiam and Meidana
Pursifull.
Catherine Clare Rockwood, age 16; Parents: Theresa Rockwood
and David Rockwood.
Daniel Boss Rubin, age 15; Parents: Susie Boss.
Elizabeth (Liz) Leslie Rutzick, age 16.
Mark Richard Samco, age 16; Parents: Rick and Martha Samco.
Kathryn Denelle Stevens, age 15; Parents: Steve and Janet
Stevens.
Simon Brendan Thomas, age 17; Parents: Susan Rosenthal and
Bill Thomas.
Miles Mark Von Bergen, age 18; Parents: Paul and Jan Von
Bergen.
Lauren Elizabeth Wiener, age 17; Parents: Julie Grandfield
and Jon Wiener.
Farleigh Aiken Wolfe, age 17; Parents: Stephen and Jill
Wolfe.
Mr. HATFIELD. I must also recognize the program that generates the
enthusiasm of the Constitution in these students, the We the People * *
* The Citizen and the Constitution features an intensive curriculum,
which provides students with a fundamental understanding of the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the principles and values they
embody. The program is designed to promote an understanding of the
rights and responsibilities of citizens of our constitutional
democracy, and gathered around this particular focus have been more
than 22 million students in this country who have participated in the
program, at all levels, during the last 9 years--22 million. Developed
and administered by the Los Angeles-based Center for Civic Education,
the program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
In discussing the We the People Program, I want to pay special
tribute to my good friend, Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island.
Senator Pell's commitment to education is unparalleled in this
institution. He is the father of the We the People Program, and he has
been actively involved in its activities since its inception. Senator
Pell has been a mentor to me and to all of us over the years on the
issue of education, as well as other issues. The Senate is going to
miss his intellect and pragmatic approach to governing. I want to also
thank a gifted member of Senator Pell's staff, David Evans, for all of
his hard work in conjunction with the We the People Program and his
many years of faithful service.
Mr. President, Lincoln High School has built a dynasty in the We the
People Program. This is a dynasty of success, but, most importantly, a
dynasty of knowledge--knowledge that will enable them to understand our
country's origins and foundations and knowledge that will help them to
be better citizens.
Mr. President, I shout from the housetops, congratulations, Lincoln
High School. You have made many people, myself included, very, very
proud.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have a list of all the
winners of the 1996 competition--the national winner at the top,
Lincoln High School; second place, Amador Valley High School,
Pleasanton, CA; third place, East High School, Denver, CO; and the
following honorable mentions, regional awards, and unit awards--printed
in the Record.
There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution--List of 1996
Winners
National winner: Lincoln High School, Portland, OR. Second
place: Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA. Third
place: East High School, Denver, CO.
Honorable mention: Other Top Ten Finalists Team--
Alphabetically by State)--Chamblee High School, Chamblee, GA;
Maine South High School, Park Ridge, IL; Lawrence Central
High School, Indianapolis, IN; St. Dominic Regional High
School, Lewiston, ME; East Brunswick High School, East
Brunswick, NJ; Half Hollow Hills High School, Dix Hills, NY;
and McAllen Memorial High School, McAllen, TX.
Winners of Regional Awards: Best Non-Finalist Team from
each Region--Western States: Boulder City High School,
Boulder City, NV; Mountain/Plain States: Lincoln Southeast
High School, Lincoln, NE; Central States: East Kentwood High
School, Kentwood, MI; Southeastern States: Hillsboro
Comprehensive High School, Nashville, TN; and Northeastern
States: Hampton High School, Allison Park, PA.
Winners of Unit Awards: Best Non-Finalist Team for
Expertise in each Unit of Competition--Unit 1 (Foundations of
Democracy): Johnston High School, Johnston, IA; Unit 2
(Creation of the Constitution): Moriarty High School,
Moriarty, NM; Unit 3 (Constitution Shapes Institutions):
Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson, MN; Unit 4 (Extension of
Bill of Rights): Heritage Christian High School, Milwaukee,
WI; Unit 5 (Protection of Rights): Shades Valley Resource
Learning Center, Birmingham, AL; and Unit 6 (Role of
Citizen): Joplin High School, Joplin, MO.
Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I merely wanted to rise to express my
gratitude to the Senator from Oregon [Mr. Hatfield] for his kind words.
Having worked with him for thirty years, I have great admiration and
respect for the gentleman from Oregon. I have come to know and revere
him as a man of courage, conscience, and conviction. It is an honor to
be a recipient of the We The People award, it makes it doubly an honor
to share it with my friend and colleague.
I yield the floor.
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