[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 86 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MUNSTER WE THE PEOPLE TEAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2008

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to pay 
tribute to the outstanding achievements of an exceptional group of 
students from Munster High School, located in Indiana's First 
Congressional District. Two exceptional teams from Munster High School, 
Team Adams and Team Jefferson, accomplished the extraordinary feat of 
finishing in first and second place, respectively, in the State 
competition of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution 
program. Following their victory at the State level, Team Adams went on 
to compete in the national finals held in Washington, DC, from 
May 3-May 5, 2008. For their knowledge and understanding of the 
American Government, these extraordinary young people received an 
honorable mention as one of the top ten finalists at this year's 
national competition.
  The We the People program, administered by the Center for Civic 
Education, is a program that reaches over 28 million elementary, 
middle, and high school students. The goal of the program is to provide 
students with an understanding of the fundamentals of the Constitution 
and the Bill of Rights. The program helps students to understand their 
rights under the American governmental system.
  The people of Munster, as well as the entire northwest Indiana 
community, can be proud of this truly remarkable class of students. 
Team Adams consisted of the following students: James Burgwald, Sarah 
Chowdhury, Sophia Griggs, Nicole Hong, Megan Hruska, Grant Huebner, 
Daniel Jayakar, Robin Jiang, Neil Keshvani, Charlie Krull, Alicia 
Nieves, Paige Patterson, Blake Platt, Michael Pudlow, Matt Stewart, 
Nicholas Stoffregen, and Julianne Watterson. Team Jefferson was 
comprised of: Danny Alexander, Eric Anderson, Keriann Ballanco, 
Katharine Banks, Arefin Chowdhury, Lorien Estes, Amy Fuhs, Carly Gibbs, 
Russell Gonzalez, Jonathan Harangody, Jessica Hilbrich, Nithin 
Krishnan, Viraj Maniar, Samantha Mardyla, Martha Mihich, Lana Muhrez, 
Molly Poczontek, Abhinav Ravi, Christopher Witter, and Meagan Yothment.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to once again extend my most heartfelt 
congratulations to the members of Munster High School's We the People 
program, as well as their coach, Mr. Michael Gordon, and all of the 
community and faculty members who have instilled in these students the 
desire to succeed. The values exhibited by these young people and their 
interest in the history and fundamentals of our great Nation serve to 
inspire us all. I am proud to represent these fine individuals in 
Congress, and I am proud to have been given this opportunity to 
recognize these future leaders. I look forward to watching their 
achievements as they continue to rise to the top.

                          ____________________