[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 164 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S8851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I would like to congratulate the 
students from Iowa City West High School who will participate in the We 
the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national finals in 
Washington, DC. More than 1,200 students from across the United States 
will visit 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. The We the 
People program run by the Center for Civic Education, with the help of 
Federal funding, provides an outstanding curriculum that promotes civic 
competence and responsibility among elementary and secondary students.
  I am proud to announce that the students from Iowa City West High 
School, through their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, won the State 
competition and thus were given the distinction of representing Iowa in 
the national finals.
  While in Washington, the students will participate in a three-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 and have 
opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant 
historical and contemporary issues. In the end, students take away a 
solid understanding of the origin of American constitutional democracy 
as well as the contemporary relevance of our founding documents and 
ideals. In short, it produces better citizens.
  I would like to personally recognize the Iowa City West students who 
are on the team that will represent Iowa in the national finals, Guo 
Chen, Jinny Guo, Yelena Shabelnik, John Alatalo, Cole Anderson, Bennett 
Mueller, Rebecca Wen, Elizabeth Wang, Evan Davis, Eleanor Marshall, 
Margaret Shultz, Katherine Yang, Trevor Clinkenbeard, Mark Mellecker, 
Brad Ockenfels, Ray Ockenfels, Nik Hlebotwitsh, Sara McAndrew, Jessica 
Sheldon, Asya Bergal, Joe Henderson, Hilah Kohen, Jacob Larson, 
Elizabeth Vandenberg, and teacher Gary Neuzil.
  I wish these students the best of luck at the We the People national 
finals and applaud their outstanding achievement.

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