[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4933-S4934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WE THE PEOPLE

 Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, recently, more 1,200 students from 
across the United States visited Washington, DC to take part in the 
national finals of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, the 
most extensive educational program in the country developed 
specifically to educate young people about the U.S. Constitution and 
Bill of Rights.
  I applaud the class from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge 
that skillfully represented the great State of Illinois in this 
prestigious national event. Through their knowledge of the U.S. 
Constitution, these outstanding students won the statewide competition 
and made Illinois proud in the national competition here in our 
Nation's capitol.
  Congratulations to Nicole Calabrese, Carly Calkins, Emily Cottrell, 
Keith Dent, Katie Eichstaedt, Alyssa Engle,

[[Page S4934]]

Katie Funkhouser, Kathryn Futris, Jacqueline Heffernan, Kevin Kane, 
Erin Keating, Maddie Kiem, Dan Leung, Mike Mangialardi, Kelly McKenna, 
Ryan Morrisroe, Allison Mueller, Jessica Newton, James Pikul, Elizabeth 
Poli, Ashley Rezaeizadeh, Alex Schallmo, Jimmy Skuros, Ryan Stegink, 
Dan Widing, Meredith Wisniewski, and their teacher Dan States. I 
commend each and everyone of you for your hard work.
  While in Washington, these students participated in a 3-day academic 
competition that simulated a congressional hearing in which they 
``testified'' before a panel of judges. Students demonstrated their 
knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and had 
opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant 
historical and contemporary issues.
  I wish these students the best of luck in their future endeavors and 
applaud their outstanding achievement.

                          ____________________