[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S6189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   2007 WE THE PEOPLE NATIONAL FINALS

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, from April 28-30, 2007, more 
than 1,200 students from across the country visited Washington, DC to 
take part in the National Finals of the We the People: The Citizen and 
the Constitution competition. Administered by the Center for Civic 
Education, the We the People program is funded by the U.S. Department 
of Education by Act of Congress, and is an innovative national 
educational program developed to educate young people about the 
Constitution and Bill of Rights.
  Sixteen outstanding students from West Anchorage High School of 
Anchorage, AK, through their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, won 
their statewide competition and earned the chance to come to 
Washington, DC, and compete at the national level. I am proud to 
announce that these talented young people won the Region One: Western 
States Award at this prestigious national event. The regional awards 
are presented to one class from each of the five geographic regions 
that has the highest cumulative score during the first 2 days of 
competition.
  While in Washington, the students participated in a 3-day academic 
competition that simulates a congressional hearing in which they 
``testify'' before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their 
knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles as they 
evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and 
contemporary issues.
  The We the People competition is a rigorous program and students 
enter prepared to answer tough questions, some of which Americans have 
been debating since the Constitution was ratified. For example, 
participants in this year's competition were asked to evaluate the 
following constitutional principles: States rights--Evaluate the 
proposal in the Virginia Plan to give Congress the power to strike down 
state laws that it considered to be in violation of the national 
constitution or of the national interest; The rights of the 
individual--Evaluate the anti-Federalist argument that a bill of rights 
is as necessary to defend an individual against the majority in a 
republic as against the king in a monarchy; equal protection--How, if 
at all, is the concept of equal protection of the laws related to the 
natural rights philosophy and the idea of a social contract? America's 
role as an example to other countries--Which aspects of American 
constitutional democracy have been the most influential in other 
countries?
  I am so proud to recognize the outstanding students from West 
Anchorage High School, this year's We the People Region One winners:
  Kristin Baylon, Justin Birchell, Kathryn Braden, Chloe Cotton, Taylor 
Evenson, Emmaus Finau, Colby Gerik, Matthew Legacki, Elyse Lindsay, 
Patrick Marcil, Sara Perman, Molly Quinn, Leyna Rynearson, Henrik 
Strand, Chandra Suriano, and Brianna Thompson.
  I also wish to commend the teacher of the class, Pamela Orme, who is 
responsible for preparing these young constitutional experts for the 
National Finals. Also worthy of special recognition is Maida Buckley, 
the state coordinator, and Todd Heuston, the district coordinator, who 
are among those responsible for implementing the We the People program 
in Alaska.
  I congratulate these students on their exceptional achievement at the 
We the People National Finals.

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