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The 2023 Indiana Bar Foundation’s We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution State Finals returns to Indianapolis next week, as students from across the state gather to display their constitutional knowledge.
According to a bar foundation news release, more than 600 middle and high school students will compete in the 2023 two-day championship, which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at Historic Union Station and Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown.
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.
“The Foundation is proud to sponsor this wonderful program,” IBF President and CEO Charles Dunlap said in a news release. “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 where students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles through presenting their views on a specific topic, 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 in the Grand Hall of Union Station, organized by the United States District Court of the Southern District of Indiana. Approximately 70 individuals will take the oath of citizenship, according to the bar foundation.
Middle school classes competing in the state finals include:
- Carroll Middle School (Smith), Fort Wayne
- Carroll Middle School (Culbertson), Fort Wayne
- Castle South Middle School, Newburgh
- Fall Creek Junior High School, Fishers
- Fishers Junior High School, Fishers
- Forest Ridge Academy, Schererville
- Helfrich Park STEM Academy A, Evansville
- Helfrich Park STEM Academy B, Evansville
- Hobart Middle School, Hobart
- St. Malachy Catholic School, Brownsburg
- St. Richard’s Episcopal School, Indianapolis
- Union Township Middle School, Valparaiso
- Woodside Middle School, Fort Wayne
High school classes competing in the state finals include:
- Castle High School, Newburgh
- Fishers High School, Fishers
- Franklin Central High School, Indianapolis
- Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers
- Heritage Jr/Sr High School, Monroeville
- Hobart High School, Hobart
- Homestead High School, Fort Wayne
- Mississinewa High School, Gas City
- Morton High School, Hammond
- New Palestine High School, New Palestine
- North Posey High School, Poseyville
- Plainfield High School, Plainfield
- Shepard Academy, Evansville
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