[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 59 (Monday, May 9, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING IOWA FINALISTS WE THE PEOPLE: THE CITIZEN AND THE CONSTITUTION 
                          NATIONAL COMPETITION

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate the students from 
Central Academy in Des Moines, IA who recently participated in the We 
the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national finals in 
Washington, DC The annual competition is the culmination of the 
students' extensive study of the American system of constitutional 
democracy. The team from Central Academy won the State competition, 
earning the honor of representing Iowa in the national finals from 
April 30 through May 2, 2005. I am also proud to say that they won a 
unit award for their impressive performance on unit 3.
  Unfortunately, I was in Iowa during the national finals this year so 
I was unable to meet with the students from Iowa as I customarily do. 
However, I am always impressed by how knowledgeable and politically 
astute the students are who have been through this program and I 
understand this year's group of students was no exception. I know 
Iowans can be very proud to have had them representing Iowa.
  The We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program is run by 
the Center for Civic Education with the help of federal funding. The 
program provides an excellent curriculum and valuable professional 
development opportunities for teachers, giving students a solid 
grounding in the history, philosophy, and practice of our American 
system of constitutional democracy. The result is young people who are 
more politically aware, more engaged, and more equipped to be good 
citizens.
  In closing, I would like to recognize the Central Academy students 
who participated in this program, Emily Burney, Julia Busiek, Kate 
Conlow, Tim Di Iulio, Jon Hill, Lisa Jefferson, Alix Liftka-Reselman, 
Phillip Miller, Ben Miller-Todd, David Nolan, Caroline Rendon, Andrew 
Tatge, Erin Turner, Emily Varn, and their teacher, Michael Schaffer. 
They can all be very proud of their knowledge and accomplishments. I 
would also like to recognize the We the People district coordinator, 
Ivette Bender, and the state coordinator for Iowa, Linda Martin, for 
their hard work and dedication to the We the People program.

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