UCA recently hosted the final Arkansas round of a civics competition called “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution.” Three teams of Arkansas high school students competed for a bid to represent the state at the national finals, which will be held in Washington D.C. in April.
Teams from Russellville Junior High School, Vilonia High School and Charleston High School faced each other at UCA, with Russellville capturing the state title.
UCA assistant professor Jeffrey Whittingham coordinated the state competition, with assistance from UCA instructors Marilyn Friga and Pat Ramsey.
“We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” is a nationally acclaimed program organized by the Center for Civic Education focusing on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights for upper elementary, middle, and high school students. Its primary goal is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation’s elementary and secondary students. The culminating activity is a simulated congressional hearing in which students “testify” before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.
