We the People Competes at Congressional Hearings

However, the team played primarily against Independence High School and Centennial High School in the 20th Congressional District, according to the team’s coach, Brooke Richter. Liberty placed third in the 20th District. 

Each school divides their team into six units, which all compete twice by presenting a four-minute prepared statement on a civics-based topic and then answering eight minutes of follow up questions by judges.  

Co-presidents of the We The People Team spoke about the challenges of the competition and the hard work involved with learning about the historic document. 

“It was intimidating because we didn’t know what questions to expect,” Co-President Scarlett Dodson said. 

The students have spent hours outside of school to learn the materials this semester. “On top of all our class time we’re expected to meet with our units at least once every two weeks,” Co-President Braden Mendiburu said. “We had whole-team practices after school on Wednesdays and we focused on public speaking, thinking critically off the top of our heads and presentation skills.”

The co-presidents said they appreciated what they learned about the American government, thanks to We the People. Braden Mendiburu said that the class and competition teaches seniors about the Constitution itself, but he learned much more.  “I walked away with a better understanding of how our government works,” he said.  He plans to major in political science and journalism next year in college. 

  Scarlett Dodson, who plans to major in political science, agreed: “We both want to go into government, so it gave us critical knowledge,” she said.