[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  CONGRATULATIONS TO ALTUS HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 1997

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, recently, more than 1,200 
students from 50 States and the District of Columbia were 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 Altus High School was the State Champions from 
Oklahoma and represented our State in the finals.
  The distinguished members of the team that represented Oklahoma are: 
Ramon Carlisle, Darin Copeland, Alison Clason, Houston Green, Colin 
Holman, Stephen Iken, James Lambert, Stacy Lewis, Juanita Martinez, 
Steffani O'Brien, David Sutherland, Shannon Taylor, and Bridget Winter.
  I also would like to recognize their coaches, Rebekkah and Johnny 
Morrow, who deserve much of the credit for the success of the team. The 
district coordinator, Diane Morgan, and the State coordinator, Rita 
Geiger also contributed a significant amount of 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 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 our lives. These 
students have honored Oklahoma in their participation in the national 
finals and I wish them every success in the years ahead.

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