More than 600 middle and high school students will compete in the 2023 Indiana Bar Foundation We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution State Finals. The two-day championship will be held at Historic Union Station and Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Dec. 12 and 13.
Classes from 14 middle schools and 14 high schools from across the state qualified by finishing in the top three in one of four regionals or were granted a wild card entry based on regional points.
Within Hamilton County, four schools in Fishers will compete. They are:
- Fall Creek Junior High School
- Fishers Junior High School
- Fishers High School
- Hamilton Southeastern High School
“The Foundation is proud to sponsor this wonderful program,” Foundation President & CEO Charles Dunlap said. “Congratulations to every class that has been part of regional and state competition. We are thankful to our school communities, volunteer judges, and all those whose financial support allows the Foundation to provide We the People to more than 10,000 Indiana students annually.”
The We the People competition consists of simulated congressional hearings. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles through presenting their views on a specific topic and then defending their positions by answering questions from a panel of judges. Each class will compete in six rounds. Awards are presented to the top three classes.
In addition to the competition, middle school students will have the opportunity to witness a Naturalization Ceremony Tuesday afternoon in the Grand Hall of Union Station, organized by the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana. Approximately 70 individuals will take the oath of citizenship. The Honorable James R. Sweeney II, United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, and member of the Foundation Board of Directors will preside.
Find more information at inbarfoundation.org/we-the-people.