Both Fishers high schools take top two spots at ‘We the People’ competition
Hamilton Southeastern High School is the 2023 Indiana Bar Foundation We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution State High School Champion and will represent Indiana in the national finals this Spring.
Fishers High School finished second and Plainfield High School finished third. Fourteen classes and 350 students competed in the annual event held at the Historic Union Station and Crowne Plaza in Indianapolis.
Fishers High School earned second place in the state. (Photo provided)
“We say this each year, and it rings true with today’s competition,” Foundation President & CEO Charles Dunlap said. “Our students are remarkably impressive with their preparation, work ethic, their presentation skills, and their knowledge to answer questions related to the Constitution in such depth.”
The Foundation administers Indiana’s We the People program.
The keynote speaker was Hon. Christopher M. Goff, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. During his remarks, Justice Goff congratulated the assembled students for their hard work and dedication. He challenged the group to continue their participation in civics.
During the awards ceremony, Unit Awards were presented to the following schools:
- Unit One: Homestead High School
- Unit Two: New Palestine High School
- Unit Three: Shepard Academy
- Unit Four: Castle High School
- Unit Five: Franklin Central High School
- Unit Six: Mississinewa High School
The We the People competition is based on a series of simulated congressional hearings exploring various aspects of the United States Constitution. 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.
On Tuesday, 14 middle school teams participated in the We the People state finals. Fishers Junior High School won the competition. Fall Creek Junior High School finished second, and Forest Ridge Academy finished third.