East High School Earns High Honor From Congress

July 16, 2008

DeGette Advances Resolution for East High School in Denver

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today announced that theHouse of Representatives passed a resolution congratulating East HighSchool in Denver for winning the 2008 "We the People" National CivicsCompetition for the second year in a row.

"I want tocongratulate East High School for winning this highly competitivenationwide competition," said DeGette. "As a former volunteer coach ofthe East High School We the People program, I know first-hand the skilland expertise needed to be competitive, let alone take homeback-to-back championships. The students at East certainly made theMile High City proud once again."

This program is sponsored bythe non-profit, non-partisan Center for Civic Education, whose missionis to help develop and foster a well-informed citizenry through civicseducation. Its flagship program, "We the People," is funded in partthrough the U.S. Department of Education under the Education forDemocracy Act.

Each year, thousands of students from acrossthe country participate in "We the People," and begin a rigorousprogram studying the foundations of our constitutional democracy. Bystudying an advanced textbook and reading a number of primary sourcedocuments, these students become experts in the U.S. Constitution, itsfoundations and controversies over two centuries ago, and itscomplexities in today's legislative and legal system. The programculminates with national finalists participating in simulatedcongressional hearings in Washington, DC.