[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING IOWA STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WE THE PEOPLE: 
            THE CITIZEN AND THE CONSTITUTION NATIONAL FINALS

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I will take a moment to congratulate the 
individuals from Central Academy in Des Moines, IA who participated in 
the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national finals in 
Washington, DC. This event is the culmination of extensive study by 
students throughout the country of the American system of 
constitutional democracy. The students from Central Academy won the 
State competition in West Des Moines and thus were given the 
distinction of representing Iowa in the national finals. I had the 
opportunity to meet with these students when they were in Washington 
and I am certainly proud to have had them representing the great State 
of Iowa. I am also pleased that my staff member, Aaron McKay, was able 
to be involved in this program as a judge for both the Iowa competition 
and the national finals as well as acting as a mentor for the team 
going into the finals. The We the People: The Citizen and the 
Constitution program, run by the Center for Civic Education with the 
help of Federal funding, provides an outstanding curriculum that 
promotes civic competence and responsibility among elementary and 
secondary students. Students take away a solid understanding of the 
origin of American constitutional democracy as well as the contemporary 
relevance of our founding documents and ideals. In short, it produces 
better citizens. In fact, I would like to personally recognize the 
Central Academy students who participated in this program, Alexander 
Body, Alec Davis, Ainslee Ericson, Joanna Grillas, Brian Haroldson, 
Daren Ho, Meryl Houser, Jonathon Kent, Michael Larking, Conrad Lee, 
Kyle McCord, Jasmine McDowell, Eleanore Neumann, Timothy Smith, Akili 
Thomas, Sarah Wang, Kyle Wilkinson, Jay Williams and their teacher, 
Harvey Kimble. They can all be very proud of their knowledge and 
accomplishments. I look forward to next year's competition.

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