December 03, 2003
Contact: Mira Radovich, Communications (602) 340-7293
Print Press Release

PHOENIX - December 3, 2003 - Students from 15 Arizona high schools will test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution on Saturday, December 6, in the district level competition of the “We the People…The Citizen and the Constitution,” an educational program sponsored and administered by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education.

The students are preparing for the competition by studying the U.S. Constitution and learning to relate its important concepts to contemporary situations. During simulated congressional hearings, students will answer complex questions about the Constitution and will be judged on constitutional application, reasoning, supporting evidence and participation.

“We the People’s” primary goals are to promote civic awareness and responsibility in students and strengthen students’ critical thinking and public speaking skills.

The district-level competitions will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Thunderbolt Middle School in Lake Havasu City, Skyline High School in Mesa, Prescott High School in Prescott and at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Eight schools (one from each Congressional District), as well as 2 “wild card” teams will advance to the state competition, to be held January 9, 2004, at the Arizona State University West campus in Phoenix.

The schools participating in the December 6th competition are:
• Chino Valley High School, Chino Valley
• Globe High School, Globe
• Prescott High School, Prescott
• Lake Havasu High School, Lake Havasu
• Mohave High School, Bullhead City
• Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale
• Corona Del Sol, Tempe
• Dobson High School, Mesa
• Hamilton High School, Chandler
• Skyline High School, Mesa
• Nogales High School, Nogales
• Marcos De Niza, Tempe
• Valley Christian, Chandler
• Desert View High School, Tucson
• Rio Rico High School, Rio Rico
• Capps Middle School (Showcasing), Heber-Overgaard

About the Foundation
The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education plays a leading role in preparing Arizona students for civic responsibility and increasing access to justice. The Foundation educates more than 100,000 children by training teachers, school resource officers and probation officers about our laws, justice system and the foundations of democracy. It is also the home of Lawforkids.com, America’s first Web site dedicated to teaching students about the law. The Foundation also grants funds to non-profit organizations that provide free legal assistance to the poor so all people in Arizona can have a voice in our justice system.