[Phoenix, AZ] –On Friday May 2^nd, 2008, 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. 

Linweaver Elementary School took top honors for their display on Solar Energy, and the fifth graders were awarded with the chance to have their display judged at the 2008 Project Citizen National Showcase in New Orleans this past July. These displays were judged by Legislators all over the country during the National Conference of State Legislator’s Annual Conference.The fifth graders received a Superior Score. This is the highest ranking a school can receive in the Project Citizen National Showcase. These students were also recently asked to have their portfolio displayed at the Annual Coordinator’s Conference in Washington D.C this October. This conference brings together over 500 state and district coordinators from around the country to network and discuss ways of promoting and improving the Project Citizen program throughout the United States. Heather Matchett’s fifth grade students’ portfolio was one of five chosen from each region in the country for the conference display later this year.