Munster High School Wins Top Civic Competition at We The People State Finals
INDIANAPOLIS – Munster High School won the top award at Indiana’s premiere civic competition and will represent the state in the national competition. More than 700 teens and pre-teens versed in the U.S. Constitution descended on Plainfield, Ind., to compete in the We The People State Finals December 17-18 at Plainfield High School, 20 minutes west of downtown Indianapolis. The teams from these three schools scored highest by the panels of professional judges:
1. Munster High School
2. Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers
3. Fishers High School
“Indiana students always amaze us with the energy and dedication they give to the study of civics,” said Charles R. Dunlap, executive director of the Indiana Bar Foundation (Foundation). “The state finals competition brings the best of the state together to showcase their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution. Most adults who witness this competition leave inspired by the students.”
Fall 2011, the Foundation released the Indiana Civic Health Index which showed Indiana ranked 43rd in voter registration and 48th in voting. The We The People educational model has been shown to increase civic participation, including voting rates, for students as they become adults.
Photos of the winning teams are posted to Google Picasa.
See comments from teachers and judges about the event!
About We The People
We The People is an educational model that teaches students in fifth, eighth and twelfth grades about the U.S. Constitution. After a semester of study about American history and constitutional philosophy, as well as current events and applicable court cases, students testify in mock congressional hearings before panels of volunteer judges from the legal community. Teams mastering their subjects compete in competitions throughout Indiana’s nine congressional districts and finally at on state competition with representative teams from each district. The civic education model is one of the most effective for creating model citizens who vote at high rates than their peers. For research or more on the program, visit www.inbf.org/.
About the Indiana Bar Foundation
The Foundation is dedicated to increasing access to justice and appreciation for the rule of law. It gathers and directs resources toward three main areas: assisting people who have difficulty accessing the justice system, providing civic education for Hoosiers of all ages and improving Indiana’s Judicial System and the legal profession.
The Foundation has worked diligently to reduce expenses and simultaneously raise private funds to maintain a quality competition for the teachers and students who participate. The fundraising campaign, An Hour For Civics, encourages members of the Indiana Bar to donate the equivalent of one billable hour before December 31st to the Foundation, a donation that is not only tax deductible but will also be matched by the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA). The ISBA has agreed to match up to $100,000 in private, new gifts made to the Foundation for any program or general operating expenses.
