MITCHELL — Mitchell High School students are preparing to take their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution to the state level after earning third place at the regional We the People competition held at the University of Evansville.
The students, who are in Doug Thomas’ eighth-grade class, recently competed against other schools in the program, earning a third-place finish and securing their advancement to the state competition, scheduled for December 8 in Indianapolis.
The eighth-grade students who competed include Eli Allen, Alaina Cessna, Klare Cline, Owen Freeman, Bria Hattabaugh, Landon Hobbs, Vander Hopper, Suri Howe, Norah Isom, Ethan Lindsey, Case Martin, Lola McFadden, Laura Norman, Griffin Parks, Luke Roush, Lyla Stillions, Paisley Thompkins, Barrett Wegner, and Laney Wilder.
Although this is Mitchell High School’s first year participating in the competition, Thomas brings previous experience to the program. He has been involved with We the People for five years, having previously coached students while teaching at Brown County. His experience has helped introduce the program to Mitchell students and prepare them for their first year of competition.
To prepare, students divide their class into six separate units, with each group developing expertise in a different area of constitutional knowledge. Through this approach, students study various topics related to the nation’s founding principles, government, and the Constitution.
Each unit is responsible for understanding its assigned material and preparing to demonstrate that knowledge during the competition. Students study constitutional concepts, develop an understanding of how government works, and learn to explain their answers and reasoning.
The We the People program, organized through the Indiana Bar Foundation, is designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of the Constitution, the foundations of American democracy, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Rather than simply memorizing information, students are challenged to think critically, apply what they have learned, and communicate their understanding.
For Mitchell High School, earning third place at regionals during its first year competing is an exciting accomplishment. With Thomas’ previous experience and the students’ hard work, the team will now turn its attention to the state competition.
“I honestly think it’s about the highest level of academic competition that a middle school student can compete in, and I feel like they had a ton stacked against them,” said Thomas. “It takes a lot of bravery, and the amount of work they’ve had to put into it is really demanding. They did an outstanding job, and I’m just so proud of them.”
The students will compete on December 8 in Indianapolis, where they will have the opportunity to put their preparation and constitutional knowledge to the test against teams from across Indiana.
Their regional finish marks an exciting beginning for Mitchell High School’s involvement in the We the People program, with the state competition providing another opportunity to build on their first-year success.
