HHS Students Bring Home Awards from Social Studies Competition
by Bob Drews
January 26, 2007
Twenty-six Seniors traveled to Lincoln with sponsor Chad Bailey to participate in the "We The People" State Competition on Wednesday, January 17, 2007. The program, aimed at improving understanding of the U.S. Constitution, is one in which students become "experts" in a particular topic related to a constitutional question. They then testify before a panel of legal experts in a setting much like a congressional hearing. The students were divided into six "units" and have been preparing for this competition during the first semester in U.S. Government class.
All six groups preformed very well in their first experience with the program. The Unit 6 team, consisting of Jesse Beaudette, Emily Brestel, Timmie Fuehrer and Andrea Silver won 1st place in their competition. Their topic was "The Roles of Citizens in American Democracy." Other units and the students who competed were:
Unit 1 - Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System (Adam Fulmer, Marisa Kardell, Aaron Penny and Marcelle Strydom)
Unit 2 - Methods used by the Framers as they created the Constitution (Ben Brewer, Kellen Dick, Kaylie Hollertz and Breanne Dunaway)
Unit 3 - How the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices (Matt Ecklun, John Goodwin, Hannah Jensen, Alex Jurgens and Jenni Lindstrom)
Unit 4 - How the Protections of the Bill of Rights were Developed and Expanded (Kalei Chase, hannah Herbert, Jonathan Kreutzer, C.J. Scism and Ethan Soneson)
Unit 5 - What Rights Does the Bill of Rights Protect? (Tiffany Anderson, Blair Englund, Michelle Leigh, and Chris Owens)
"I am very proud of how the students prepared and competed," commented Mr. Bailey. This was the first time Holdrege Public Schools have participated in this state competition, and the entire team received an "Honorable Mention" plaque at the awards ceremony following the program.
