[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ``WE THE PEOPLE'' COMPETITION

                                 ______


                             HON. MIKE WARD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 29, 1996

  Mr. WARD. Mr. Speaker, last month more than 1,300 students from all 
50 States and the District of Columbia came to Washington to compete in 
the national finals of the We the People * * * The Citizen and the 
Constitution program. I am proud to announce that 23 senior government 
students from Louisville Male High School represented the Commonwealth 
of Kentucky. These young scholars worked diligently to reach the 
national finals by winning local competitions in their home State and 
then competed against 49 other classes throughout the Nation wherein 
they demonstrated a remarkable understanding of the fundamental ideals 
and values of American constitutional democracy.
  The distinguished members of the team from Louisville Male High 
School, who represented my home State of Kentucky, were Abby Alster, 
Jil Beyerle, Lori Buchter, Adam Burns, Melissa Chandler, Sienna 
Greenwell, Patrick Hallahan, Nicole Hardin, Tony Heun, Michelle Hill, 
Patricia Holloway, Cammie Kramer, Kevin Laugherty, Anne-Marie Lucchese, 
Astrud Masterson, Kimberly Merritt, Tiffany Miller, Matthew Parish, 
Angela Rankin, Dana Smith, Danielle Vereen, Maleka Williams, and Jamie 
Zeller.
  I would also like to recognize their teacher, Sandra Hoover, who 
deserves much of the credit for the success of the team. The district 
coordinator, Diane Meredith, and the State coordinator, Deborah 
Williamson, also contributed a significant amount of the time and 
effort to help the team reach the national finals.
  The We the People * * * The Citizen and the Constitution program is 
the most extensive educational program in the country developed 
specifically to educate young people about the Constitution and the 
Bill of Rights. The 3-day national competition simulates a 
congressional heading in which students' oral presentations are judged 
on the basis of their knowledge of constitutional principles and their 
ability to apply them to historical and contemporary issues.
  Administered by the Center of Civic Education, the We the People * * 
* program now in the 9th academic year, has reached more than 70,400 
teachers and 22,600,000 students nationwide at the upper elementary, 
middle, and high school levels. Members of Congress and their staff 
enhance the program by discussing current constitutional issues with 
students and teachers.
  The We the People * * * program provides an excellent opportunity for 
students to gain an informed perspective on the significance of the 
U.S. Constitution and its place in your history and our lives. I wish 
these students the best of luck in their continuing studies and want 
them to know how proud we as a community are of their achievements.

                          ____________________