[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E722-E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ``WE THE PEOPLE'' PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 1997

  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, on April 26-28, 1997, more than 1,200 
students from 50 States and the District of Columbia will be in 
Washington, DC, to compete in the national finals of the We The People 
. . . The Citizen and the Constitution Program. I am proud to announce 
that the class from West Warwick High School from West Warwick will 
represent the Second Congressional District of Rhode Island. These 
young scholars have worked diligently to reach the national finals by 
winning local competitions in their home State.
  The distinguished members of the team representing Rhode Island are: 
Jamie Amaral, Mary Asselin, Jonathan Bassi, Justin Broz, John 
Caressimo, Brian Carr, Andrew Costanza, Krystle Couto, Bethany DeBlois, 
Candice Felske, John Johnson, Jonathan Juneau, Jamie Kullberg, Kristin 
Larocque, Gina Musto, Meghan O'Brien, Ryan O'Grady, Stephanie Paquet, 
Erica Ricci, Hillary Sisson, Derek Tevyaw, Kevin Willette, Kristen 
Wolslegel, Man Yu, and Debra Zenofsky.

[[Page E723]]

  I also would like to recognize their teacher, Michael Trofi, who 
deserves much of the credit for the success of the team. The district 
coordinator, Carlo Gamba, and the State coordinator, Henry Cote, also 
contributed a significant amount of time and effort to help the team 
reach the national finals.
  The We The People . . . The Citizen and 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 hearing 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 for Civic Education, the We The People 
program, now in its 10th academic year, has reached more than 75,000 
teachers, and 24 million 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 our history and lives. I wish these 
students the best of luck in the national finals and look forward to 
their continued success in the years ahead.

                          ____________________