The Warren Sun

Students affiliated with a nonprofit organization asked the Richmond Community Schools District to cover travel expenses associated with a competition event at a recent board meeting.

Dr. Mark Ladd, a history and social studies teacher at the high school, will be leading his team of students to Washington D.C. for the We The People national tournament after the board approved his $28,000 trip expense.

“It is for the top 50 high schools in the country and Richmond High School is now one of them,” said Ladd. “I think that says a lot for our kids, says a lot for the community, and says a lot for all of you.  We just want to say thank you and that's why we're here tonight.”

This is the first time the Richmond-based team has been invited to participate in the national competition, alongside 48 other total schools.

We The People is one of the programs run by the Center for Civic Engagement, a nonpolitical organization dedicated to improving education and engagement of the younger generations in their local and federal government. The program was established in 1987 and is a curriculum meant to guide students through the Constitution, its development, meanings and how it is used in government today.

The culmination of the competition is a congressional style hearing where students act as members of Congress using what they have learned to testify. At the beginning of the calendar year, schools compete at state competitions. The top two schools from each state are invited to the national competition, which ends in a final round between the top twelve schools.

Several students from the team addressed the board about the program and their excitement for the competition. The students spoke about how they gained a serious passion for government or debate, and how they gained confidence through the exercises, along with making lifelong friends.

The invitational will run from April 20-21, with the final round happening directly after, from April 22-24.