[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 78 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1170-E1171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 WE THE PEOPLE ALABAMA CLASS PLACES FOURTH AT NATIONAL COMPETITION ON 
                            THE CONSTITUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2006

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, from April 29-May 1, 2006, approximately 
1,200 students from across the country participated in the national 
finals competition 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 am pleased to announce that Vestavia Hills High 
School from Birmingham, Alabama placed fourth in the competition. The 
We the People program is administered by the Center for Civic Education 
and funded by the U.S. Department of Education by act of Congress.
  The We the People national finals is a three-day academic competition 
that simulates a congressional hearing in which the students 
``testify'' before a panel of judges on constitutional topics. Students 
demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional 
principles as they evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant 
historical and contemporary issues. Among the questions students

[[Page E1171]]

responded to in the competition includes, ``Is judicial review 
essential for the functioning of our American constitutional democracy? 
Explain and justify your position.''
  Mr. Speaker, the names of these outstanding students from Vestavia 
Hills High School are as follows:
  Grace Anthony, George Bolshinskiy, Barrett Bowdre, Courtney Bragg, 
Jeannettee Dooley, Daniel Driscoll, Claire Foster, Sarah Graffeo, 
Lauren Howard, Sarah McKibben, Patrick Mulligan, John Nicholson, 
Tiffany Parrish, Hanna Perry, Julie Phillips, Joseph Siegelman, Kendal 
Spires, Wes Stevenson, Emily Unnasch, Amy Watson, Ryan Woodford, and 
Ansley Zarra.
  I also wish to commend the teacher of the class, Amy Maddox, who was 
responsible for preparing the student class for the national finals 
competition. Also worthy of special recognition are Janice Cowin and 
Kerri Williamson, the state coordinators and Jeff Northrup, the 
district coordinator, who are among those responsible for implementing 
the We the People program in my district.
  Mr. Speaker and my colleagues in the House, please join me in 
congratulating these young constitutional experts for their outstanding 
achievement.

                          ____________________