LinkedinTUCSON STUDENTS TAKE TOP HONORS IN PROJECT CITIZEN SHOWCASE: Both Valencia Middle School and Lineweaver Elementary School Recognized
May 02, 2008
Contact: Lara Slifko (602)340-7235 
Print Press Release
TUCSON STUDENTS TAKE TOP HONORS IN PROJECT CITIZEN SHOWCASE
Both Valencia Middle School and Lineweaver Elementary School Recognized
[Phoenix, AZ] –On Friday May 2nd, over 275 students from across Arizona represented their schools and passion for public policy at the statewide Project Citizen Showcase. After a display of their portfolios, student teams gave oral presentations in support of their public policy ideas before panels of volunteer judges. While not identified as a competition, two schools were recognized for their achievements in portfolio display and oral presentation of their project before judges.
Judges at the Project Citizen Showcase represented civic and community leaders who listened to the students’ presentations and provided feedback to help them better understand the democratic process of change. “What a great experience!” marveled first time judge Andy Swann. “I was thoroughly impressed with the presentations. The students who participated in this competition represent the bright future of Arizona.”
In recognition of their achievements the following schools were awarded top honors:
Project Citizen Statewide Showcase Award for Oral Hearings
Valencia Middle School
“Graffiti in America”
Sandra Suarez-Hairgrove, Teacher
Project Citizen Statewide Showcase Award for Portfolio
Lineweaver Elementary School
“Solar Energy”
Heather Matchett, Teacher
Other participating teams include:
Holy Angels School (Globe)
“Regulating Second-hand Smoke in Motor Vehicles”
James Haley, Teacher
Holy Angels School (Globe)
“No Pain, No Gain!”
Leonard Leverance, Teacher
Parkview Middle School (Prescott Valley)
“Speeding”
Fred Tupkielewicz, Teacher
Westwind Academy (Phoenix)
“Teen Homeless”
Carrie Algozzini, Teacher
Landmark Middle School (Glendale)
“Animal Testing”
George Colebrook & Sherry Hutson, Teachers
Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies (Mesa)
“School Service”
Michael Spense, Teacher
Rhodes Junior High School (Mesa)
“The Green Revolution”
Jeff Anderson, Teacher
Rhodes Junior High School (Mesa)
“Helping the Homeless”
Jeff Anderson, Teacher
Lineweaver Elementary School (Tucson)
“Animal Safety”
Theresa Ramsey, Teacher
About Project Citizen: Project Citizen is portfolio-based civic education project for middle grade students sponsored nationally by the Center for Civic Education (CCE) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). It is supported locally by the Arizona Legislature and the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education. The program teaches young people to monitor and influence public policy. Students work cooperatively to identify a public problem in their community. They then research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solution in the form of a public policy, and create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy. Participants develop a portfolio of their work and present their project in an oral hearing before a panel of civic-minded community volunteers.
About the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education
The Foundation provides technical and financial assistance to legal aid organizations, schools and community groups working toward “access to justice for all Arizonans” through law-related education and free legal services. The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education plays a leading role in preparing Arizona students for civic responsibility. The Foundation reaches more than 100,000 children each year by training teachers, school resource officers and probation officers about our laws, justice system and the foundations of democracy. It is also home of LawForKids.org, America’s first Web site dedicated to teaching students about the law.
Helpful Websites/More Information:
· Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education: http://www.azflse.org
· Arizona Project Citizen: http://www.azflse.org/pcitizen
· Center for Civic Education (CCE): http://www.civiced.org
· National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): http://www.ncsl.org/
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