Top 10 Arizona Schools to Compete in “We the People” State Tournament

January 06, 2009
Contact: Lara Slifko (602)340-7235
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Top 10 Arizona Schools to Compete in “We the People” State Tournament
           
What:                     Time and time again Arizona’s youth are overlooked when it comes to their accomplishments, but this January 9th students across Arizona will have a chance to shine. The top ten regional participating schools in Arizona will compete in the “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” annual state competition to demonstrate student’s knowledge and application of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. We encourage you to capture this opportunity and witness these live simulated hearings. Cameras and other recording devices are strongly encouraged. Help these Arizona students showcase their amazing abilities. The winner of this competition will advance to the national competition in Arlington, VA in April, 2009.
 
 When:                Friday, January 9, 2009
Opening Ceremony              8:00 a.m.
Rounds Begin                      8:35 a.m.
Awards Ceremony               5:15 p.m.
 
Where:                  Arizona State University - West Campus
                                4701 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale, AZ
 
Who:                      Judges, legislative members, and members of the educational & legal community will judge over 300 students at the competition.
 
State Finalists and Coaches:
  • Prescott High School – Prescott – Marc Goligoski
  • Lake Havasu High School – Lake Havasu – Jamie Festa-Daigle
  • Corona del Sol – Tempe – Tim Smith
  • Dobson High School – Mesa – Shannon Sweat
  • Mountain Pointe – Phoenix – K.R. Scott
  • Hamilton High School – Chandler – Abby Dupke
  • Higley High School – Higley – Patrick Farrlley
  • Skyline High School – Mesa – Jill Benza
  • Rio Rico High School – Rio Rico – Kent Barter
  • Maricopa High School – Maricopa – Bernadette Russoniello
About Arizona’s “We the People” Program
The Program encourages active learning in and out of the classroom about contemporary constitutional issues, the history of democratic philosophy and the history surrounding the creation of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.  “We the People” also meets Arizona Academic Standards in Civics and Government and Language Arts. Each “We the People” team competing consists of a regularly rostered class of juniors or seniors who are studying civics and government or history. Ten out of the past eleven years, Arizona teams have placed within the top ten. In 2002, Dobson High School placed first in the “We the People” National Competition. The “We the People” Program is sponsored and administered by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Center for Civic Education.
 
About the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education
The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education provides technical and financial assistance to legal aid organizations, schools and community groups. The Foundation promotes “Access to Justice for All Arizonans” by supporting law-related education and free legal services and by promoting statewide collaborative efforts. The Foundation plays a leading role in preparing Arizona students for civic responsibility and 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
·         Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education: http://www.azflse.org
·         We The People-The Citizen and the Constitution: http://www.azflse.org/Wethepeople
·         Center for Civic Education: http://www.civiced.org
 
 
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